Drafting Consistent Fantasy Options Using Differentials And Averages

"Consistency Differential", as it relates to fantasy football, is a term I've been working on for a few months now: it is not the only one, however.

It, and other terms, will become valuable tools in the upcoming season, and hopefully people in the fantasy community (besides myself) will find them interesting and helpful as well.

This article references fantasy points as scored by ESPN Standard Scoring.

STATISTICS TIME:
One interesting observation comes from comparing a player's top games (half of the games the player participated in, or his "average ceiling") versus his lowest-scoring games (the other half of the games the player participated in, or his "average floor").
The resulting differential shows the average variance between a poor showing and a great game: in other words, it is a "Consistency Differential" in fantasy football.
The smaller the resulting number, the more consistent the player's scores (on average).

EQUATION:
(the top half of a player's fantasy scores)/(half the games the player participated in) - (the bottom half of a player's fantasy scores)/(half the games the player participated in) = "Consistency Differential"

PROBLEM SOLVED:
When a player plays in an odd number of games, his median score (middle number) is divided in half, and each half of a player's fantasy scores (top and bottom) is divided by another half-game.

EXAMPLE 1:
David Johnson (2016 season)
He recorded a carry in every game last year, so we take the average of his lowest scoring eight games and the average of his highest scoring eight games to determine his average floor and average ceiling from last season: additionally, we will divide resulting numbers by 8.
In his lowest scoring games, he scored 26.1, 25.1, 23.2, 17.8, 17.3, 17.1, 14.4, and 7.4 points (listed from high-to-low scoring fantasy games).
If we average those scores out, his average floor during the 2016 season was ~18.6 points per game.
Additionally, if we do the same thing for his highest scoring games (38.5, 35, 34.8, 33.6, 33.5, 30.1, 27.1, 26.8), we discover that his average ceiling during the 2016 season was ~32.4 points per game.
Finally, if we subtract his average floor from his average ceiling, we discover that his "Consistency Differential" is approximately 13.8: this represents the average difference between his average floor and average ceiling in games he played in during the 2016 NFL season.
In the end, David Johnson's "Consistency Differential" for the 2016 season is ~13.8 point.

EXAMPLE 2:
Lamar Miller (2016 season)
He recorded a carry in 14 of 16 possible games, so we take the average of his lowest scoring seven games and the average of his highest scoring seven games to determine his average floor and average ceiling from last season: additionally, we will divide resulting numbers by 7.
Lowest-scoring games: 13.8, 11.7, 9.7, 8.5, 8.3, 3.4, and 2.8 points (listed from high-to-low scoring fantasy games).
Average floor during the 2016 season: ~8.5 points per game.
Highest-scoring games: 32.8, 19.3, 19.2, 16.9, 15.7, 14.7, and 14.3 points.
Average ceiling during the 2016 season: ~19 points per game.
Lamar Miller's "Consistency Differential" for the 2016 season is approximately 10.5 points.

EXAMPLE 3:
Tevin Coleman (2016 season)
He recorded a carry in 13 of 16 possible games, so we take the average of his lowest scoring six games and the average of his highest scoring six games, then use the "Problem Solved" equation to divide the middle game out and determine his average floor and average ceiling from last season: additionally, we will divide resulting numbers by 6.5.
Lowest-scoring games: 14.4, 9.3, 8.6, 6.3, 4.9, and 2.7 points (add half of the median to equation: 7.45).
Average floor during the 2016 season: ~8.25 points per game.
Highest-scoring games: 29.9, 26.3, 22.5, 19.5, 16.7, and 15.1 points (add half of the median to equation: 7.45).
Average ceiling during the 2016 season: ~21.15 points per game.
Tevin Coleman's "Consistency Differential" for the 2016 season is approximately 12.9 points.

WHAT IT MEANS:
The "Consistency Differential" equation produces a number, and the size of that number tells people how consistent (on average) players have been in past seasons of fantasy football.
Smaller numbers mean that on average, players have been more consistent in fantasy football than those with larger numbers.
Given the above examples, we can tell that Lamar Miller was, on average, more consistent than either David Johnson or Tevin Coleman in terms of scoring during the 2016 fantasy football season.
However, there are obvious limitations here: Johnson's average floor last season was nearly equivalent to Miller's average ceiling, and thus, Johnson was obviously a much safer pick than Miller.

APPLYING AVERAGES:
Averages, as a concept, are useful in fantasy football to determine more than just consistency: they can help determine opportunities, trends, and effectiveness of many players.
Consider the amount of opportunities the above three running backs got per game last season: to determine "Average Opportunity Ceiling", we take the half of the games in which a player touched the ball most and average them out.
Likewise, to determine "Average Opportunity Floor", we take the half of the games in which a player touched the ball least and average them out: the difference will be the "Opportunity Differential".

EXAMPLE:
David Johnson (2016 season)
He recorded a carry or reception in every game last year, so we will divide resulting numbers by 8.
Games with most touches: 41, 32, 30, 29, 27, 25, 25, and 24.
"Average Opportunity Ceiling" last season: ~29.125 touches per game.
Games with least touches: 22, 21, 21, 20, 17, 16, 15, and 8.
"Average Opportunity Floor" last season: ~17.5 touches per game.
David Johnson's "Opportunity Differential" for the 2016 season is approximately 12 touches per game: that is, the average difference between his "Average Opportunity Ceiling" and "Average Opportunity Floor".

SUMMATION:
This example shows that Johnson, on average, would record a carry or reception between approximately 18 and 29 times per game during the 2016 season.
Similarly to "Consistency Differential", a smaller "Opportunity Differential" is always better: in upcoming articles, I will compare the differentials of running backs and other positions.

Fantasy Football Rankings: June 2017

Here are our current rankings for each offensive position in fantasy football.

These rankings are in a living document, so they will be changing throughout the offseason as new information comes forward.

Nonetheless, check them out and enjoy!

PUBLISHED: 6/4/17

UPDATE: 6/11/17

Fantasy Football Rankings: June 2017 (Google Sheet)

Stock Up: Five Wide Receivers

It's about that time in the offseason where fantasy footballers can begin to dissect which skill position players will be great value picks, and which players should be left alone.

Obviously, nothing is set in stone, but as we start to research new coaching staff, quarterback relationships with team members, and off-season workout programs, there are clues that can lead to interesting observations.

With that in mind, let's look at five wide receivers whose stock, in our opinions, has been going up as of late.

Pierre Garcon (San Francisco 49ers)

2016 Stats
Targets: 116
Receptions: 79
Catch Percentage: 68%
Reception Yards: 1,041
Yards Per Catch: 13.2
Receiving Touchdowns: 3
PFF Grade/Rank: 85.8 (8th among qualifying WR's)

If you're scoffing at Garcon making this list, you're not alone.
The 49ers are in rebuilding mode, have big questions at the quarterback position, and generally are not regarded as a fantasy football goldmine.
Also, Garcon will be 31 years old this year (in his 10th season in the league) with a new team, and has only surpassed 1,000 reception yards twice in his career.

Nonetheless, there is reason for optimism: during both the 2012 and 2013 NFL seasons, Kyle Shanahan (the 49ers new head coach) was the Redskins' offensive coordinator, and Garcon was the Redskins WR1.
Though he was injured in 2012 and only played in 10 games (some with injuries), he was on his way to over 1,000 yards, and accomplished that feat in 2013 with his best statistical season to date (184 targets, 113 receptions, 1,346 yards).
Shanahan has also had success with other WR1's who play in his schemes (see: Andre Johnson, Santana Moss, Jabar Gaffney, Andrew Hawkins, Julio Jones), and given those players' general statistical success when he was their coordinator/coach, hope for a good season from Garcon isn't so farfetched.

Oh, and in case you're curious which quarterbacks started games for him during those seasons, they included Matt Shaub, Sage Rosenfels, Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman, John Beck, Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins, Brian Hoyer, Johnny Manziel, Connor Shaw, and Matt Ryan.

It does indeed look like Shanahan can pull off another great statistical season with Garcon, no matter who plays under center.

J.J. Nelson (Arizona Cardinals)

2016 Stats
Targets: 74
Receptions: 34
Catch Rate: 46%
Reception Yards: 568
Yards Per Catch: 16.7
Receiving Touchdowns: 6
PFF Grade/Rank: 69.1 (73rd among qualifying WR's)

Nelson is not as recognizable as many other wide receivers, and will likely be overlooked, which is where his potential value comes in.
Last year, while John Brown (the other young and talented Cardinals wideout) regressed from his 1,003 receiving yards in 2015 (in large part due to health issues), Nelson was targeted nearly three times as much and almost doubled his total yards from the previous season.

His catch rate doesn't look good, but when we let the stats speak for themselves, we discover that his yards per reception ranks among the top-10 in the league among qualifying receivers, and his deep-threat status will likely relegate him to a lower catch rate than most wideouts in future seasons as well.
That shouldn't be worrisome when the rest of his teammates are considered: Larry Fitzgerald, the future HOF receiver, had a lower catch rate than his previous season, averaged the lowest YPC of his career, and will turn 34 this year.
John Brown, as previously mentioned, regressed severely last season (from 1,003 receiving yards in 2015 to 517 receiving yards in 2016), and may continue to struggle with health issues.
Jaron Brown isn't much of a breakout candidate either, considering that he has never surpassed 250 yards in a season over his four seasons with the team.

In other words, outside of force-feeding the ball to David Johnson (which they will definitely do), the Cardinals actual receiving options are limited, and Nelson may be the most immediate option to step up and fit the bill.

Cameron Meredith (Chicago Bears)

2016 Stats
Targets: 96
Receptions: 66
Catch Rate: 69%
Reception Yards: 888
Yards Per Catch: 13.5
Receiving Touchdowns: 4
PFF Grade/Rank: 74.5 (53rd among qualifying WR's)

Meredith is a great feel-good story: a college quarterback-turned-wideout, he had a good senior year, but went undrafted anyways.
Then, as a part of the Chicago Bears, he led all players in receiving yards during the 2016 season, despite the quarterback carousel throwing the ball to him (Cutler, Barkley, and Hoyer).

Meredith looks to be something special: he has the size (6'3, 207 lbs) to succeed as a WR1, is only 24 years old, and has a year of success despite playing on one of the worst rosters in the NFL.
His competition this year includes all kinds of big names who need to prove themselves:
-Kevin White, the former Bears' 1st-round pick who has only played in four NFL games.
-Kendall Wright, the former Titans' 1st-round pick who hasn't played a full season since 2013.
-Victor Cruz, the former Giants' star wideout who hasn't played a full season since 2012.
-Markus Wheaton, the former troubled-but-talented Steelers' receiver.
-Rueben Randle, the former talented-but-inconsistent Giants' wideout.

This roster may have gone from one of the least talented in the NFL to one of the most talented, at least at the skill-positions, but it is full of injury concerns and unrealized potential.
Meredith is the only one who has recently been on the up-and-up, while also being one of the few remaining skill position players from last year: it's time to take a flyer on him.

Michael Thomas (New Orleans Saints)

2016 Stats
Targets: 122
Receptions: 92
Catch Rate: 75%
Reception Yards: 1,137
Yards Per Catch: 12.4
Receiving Touchdowns: 9
PFF Grade/Rank: 87.1 (6th among qualifying WR's)

Michael Thomas was the Saints' 2nd round draft pick last year, and immediately became their leader in receptions, which means he was a pleasant surprise in fantasy football.

Now, with Brandin Cooks traded to the New England Patriots, the team retains Thomas (as its presumed WR1), Willie Snead (likely as the leading slot receiver), and Brandon Coleman (mostly as a red-zone threat at 6'6 and 225 lbs).
Considering that the Saints didn't draft any wideouts, that will most likely be their three-headed trio of wide receivers, while they utilize Adrian Peterson and Mark Ingram at running back.
Coby Fleener is their big name at tight end, and though he is often known more for unfortunate drops, he has had another year in the system, and should play better.

Why is all of this information crucial to Thomas' success this year in fantasy football?
Well, though opposing teams will focus their efforts on stopping the Brees-Thomas connection early and often, there are enough other threats on this team to stop them from double or triple-teaming him during games.
That being said, Drew Brees is a master at connecting with his leading wideouts, and Thomas should be more productive than the majority of players this year.

Terrelle Pryor (Washington Redskins)

2016 Stats
Targets: 140
Receptions: 77
Catch Rate: 55%
Reception Yards: 1,007
Yards Per Catch: 13.1
Receiving Touchdowns: 4
PFF Grade/Rank: 78.6 (tied for 31st among qualifying WR's)

Pryor has had one of the most odd trips through the NFL to get to this point: originally drafted in 2012 in the supplemental draft, he entered the league as a mobile quarterback, before eventually converting to wide receiver and thriving during the 2016 season with the Cleveland Browns.

The Redskins just lost DeSean Jackson, but have multiple playmakers at the skill positions who people may know: Jamison Crowder, Josh Doctson, and Brian Quick make up the wide receivers, while guys like Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, and Niles Paul create one of the most threatening groups of tight ends in the league.
Pryor comes in with a few things to his benefit: WR1 size (6'4, 223 lbs), a great season last year (despite playing for a terrible roster and team), natural athletic ability, and experience at multiple positions.

Now he gets Kirk Cousins as his quarterback, who excels at throwing the ball in the intermediate range, a place where Pryor should be able to work the sidelines and out-jump most defenders on the field.

Stock Down: Five Quarterbacks (Whose Situations Are Generally Terrible)

The NFL Draft is done, and teams are celebrating their new team additions.

Some teams struck gold, some teams only struck fool's gold, and some teams struck out entirely.

Today, we're looking at five quarterbacks whose situations are generally terrible for fantasy football purposes this year: wait to draft them till the later rounds, or don't draft them at all.

Question: when is a good time to start planning your next #FantasyFootball draft?
Answer: right now!https://t.co/Bn93OKNDtG#WhatOffseason

— FantasyFootballFFF (@Football_FFF) May 21, 2017

Carson Palmer (Arizona Cardinals)

Notable Skill Position Players:

RB: David Johnson, Andre Ellington

WR: Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, J.J. Nelson, Chad Williams

TE: Jermaine Gresham

When talking about Palmer, there is a great divide between who he has been as a fantasy football draft choice in past years, and who he is today.

For example, after a fantastic fantasy season in 2015 (5th highest-scoring QB), he fell back down to earth last year (19th highest-scoring QB) due, in part, to his age beginning to catch up to him: this can also be seen in his completion percentage, which was his lowest since 2011 (61%).

We've seen this before with big names (Peyton Manning being the most recent), and with reports coming out of confidence declining in the Cardinal's quarterback situation from inside and outside the organization, it may be best to stay away.

Additionally, for fantasy football purposes, David Johnson will again be the focus of this offense, and since Palmer's arm may be weakening, he likely won't be hitting those deep balls that led to his stellar 2015 fantasy season.

Sam Bradford (Minnesota Vikings)

Notable Skill Position Players:

RB: Latavius Murray, Jerick McKinnon, Dalvin Cook

WR: Stefon Diggs, Michael Floyd, Adam Thielen, Laquon Treadwell

TE: Kyle Rudolph

Sam Bradford is the epitome of a solid talent who never really reaches his potential, in this case due to a lengthy (and constant) battle with injuries.

Statistically, last season was the best of his career: he set personal bests in passing yards (3,877), led the league in completion percentage (71.6%), had his highest yards-per-attempt to date (7.02 YPA), and achieved a new best Passer Rating (99.3).

Nonetheless, that didn't translate into a good fantasy season (23rd highest-scoring QB), he has only played in a full 16-game season twice in his career (2010, 2012), and the three-headed running back rotation this year will likely take the focus away from the passing game.

Also, as an important additional detail, his o-line isn't looking great: watch the film from last year, and realize there may not be many improvements in that area at all.

Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens)

Notable Skill Position Players:

RB: Danny Woodhead, Terrance West, Kenneth Dixon, Lorenzo Taliaferro

WR: Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman

TE: Benjamin Watson, Dennis Pitta, Maxx Williams

The Ravens are often regarded as an every-year competitor around the NFL, but this isn't looking good at all.

Flacco may have finally broken the 4,000 passing yards mark last year (4,317 yds) and set a new personal best in completion percentage (64.9%), but that can't make up for his pathetic supporting cast on offense.

Think about it: at running back, their leading pass-catching back is an oft-injured 30-something who has missed the majority of both the 2014 and 2016 seasons due to injury.

Their leading 2-down back is a cast-off from the Cleveland Browns (yikes).

The Ravens' top two wide receivers consistently struggle with drops, and no one knows who the other ones are (name one without looking them up, I dare you).

Finally, no one in fantasy trusts Watson or Pitta to stay healthy, and Williams has yet to show signs of life.

Stay away from Flacco in fantasy: this ain't his year.

Barkley/Hoyer/Beathard (San Francisco 49ers)

Notable Skill Position Players:

RB: Carlos Hyde, Tim Hightower, Joe Williams, Kapri Bibbs

WR: Pierre Garcon, Marquise Goodwin, Jeremy Kerley, Bruce Ellington

TE: Vance McDonald

Everyone knows the 49ers are in rebuilding mode, and that's fine: in fact, if you're a fan of the team, you may be quite pleased with the draft results, which were impressive to say the least.

The issue from a fantasy football perspective is that it focused almost entirely on the defensive side of the ball, leaving the offensive shelves bare.

At the wideout position, Garcon is a 30-year-old #2 receiver, Goodwin is a one-trick-pony deep threat speedster, and Kerley/Ellington essentially play the same slot role.

McDonald is a good tight end, but he was not worth his contract extension (5 years/$35 million).

The strength of this offense is their running back stable, so look for the team to almost ignore whoever is under center in order to pound the ball more this season.

Jared Goff (Los Angeles Rams)

Notable Skill Position Players:

RB: Todd Gurley, Lance Dunbar

WR: Tavon Austin, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp

TE: Gerald Everett, Tyler Higbee

I feel sorry for Goff: his supporting cast reads like a McDonald's catering menu at a black-tie affair.

Everything about the offense here is hurting: Goff is a good QB, and Gurley is a top-tier talent at RB, but they can't stay upright with the poor O-line in front of them.

Additionally, there are no true threats at the other skill positions: Austin is a punt returner playing wideout, Woods has never passed 700 yards receiving in his career, and Kupp is a rookie in the form of one of this year's third-round picks.

Also, Everett, though he was the Rams' top pick this year, is a rookie joining a recent 4th-round pick to complete this inexperienced tight end stable.

Don't look for much success on offense this year, and Goff should likely not be on any fantasy roster.

Stock Up: Five Quarterbacks (Whose Situations Improved Post-Draft)

The NFL Draft is done, and teams are celebrating their new team additions.

For those fans who already are planning for their next fantasy football draft, we hear you: now is as good a time as any to analyze which players are becoming prime draft targets.

Today, we're looking at five quarterbacks whose situations have improved since the NFL Draft took place, either due to newly drafted team members, or due to additions made through trades or free agency.

It's always a good time to start planning for your next #FantasyFootball draft!#WhatOffseason

— FantasyFootballFFF (@Football_FFF) May 13, 2017

Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers)

Key Team Additions:
1. Christian McCaffrey (RB)
2. Curtis Samuel (RB/WR)
3. Taylor Moton (G)

SuperCam's stock should be as high as it'll ever be right now, and it's no surprise why.
Both McCaffrey and Samuel are functional running backs and wide receivers at the same time, and when the power running of Jonathan Stewart is added to that backfield, the possibilities are endless.
Based on the personnel alone, misdirection has suddenly become an integral part of the Panthers' game plan: the opposing linebackers and safeties will have no idea who to watch.

Why does that improve Newton's situation?
Simple: there are enough other threats on the field to significantly reduce the defensive pressure on him when throwing the ball, and he should have much more room to run when he decides to keep it.
Additionally, he's always been a goal-line touchdown vulture, continually ruining poor Stewart's fantasy ceiling due to QB keepers near the end zone.

Finally, the addition of Moton in the second round is a boon to an offensive line that struggled at times last season to keep Cam safe for any length of time.

Andy Dalton (Cincinnati Bengals)

Key Team Additions:
1. John Ross (WR)
2. Joe Mixon (RB)
3. Josh Malone (WR)

The Red Rifle now has more tools in his toolbox than most NFL quarterbacks have in their careers.
The team already features standout #1 wide receiver A.J. Green, talented tight end Tyler Eifert, and a couple more functional wide receivers in Tyler Boyd and Brandon LaFell.
That receiving corps adds to its arsenal first-round selection John Ross, a burner who ran a record 4.22 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
A superstar kickoff returner from UW, Ross will also likely become the team's top deep-threat option opposite Green, freeing up Eifert, Boyd, and LaFell to be positioned in all sorts of fun formations.

Additionally, Mixon is a first-round talent who fell in the NFL Draft due to off-field issues: he joins duo Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill in the backfield to create a multi-headed threat meant to take pressure off Dalton and to provide a plethora of dump-off and screen options.

These options on the offense, alongside the addition of Malone (a huge wideout at 6'3 and 208 pounds), mean the Bengals are another multi-faceted offense ready to function under the command of captain Dalton.

Blake Bortles (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Key Team Additions:
1. Leonard Fournette (RB)
2. Cam Robinson (OT)
3. Dede Westbrook (WR)

What is one way a team can pressure off a mistake-prone NFL quarterback?
Add a game-changing running back, of course.
At six feet and 228 pounds, and with an impressive college football resume, Fournette was ranked by many draft pundits as one of the top two players in this year's entire NFL Draft.
He joins a backfield that already has Chris Ivory and T.J. Yeldon, so it will be crowded, but there's no doubt that he will be the lead 'back soon, and Ivory is a great mentor to help him into that role.
That kind of stable means opposing defensive coordinators will feel extra pressure to stop the run, and will likely focus less of their efforts on disrupting Bortles.

Over the course of the season, that kind of change in gameplan will mean good things for the 4th-year signal caller.
Additionally, the selection of one of the draft's top offensive linemen means better protection for Bortles and better running lanes for Fournette; if that isn't a recipe for success, I don't know what is.

Adding Westbrook to the roster, a troubled but talented wide receiver, means the Allen duo (Hurns and Robinson) will no longer be the sole focus of opposing teams: the speedster has great double-moves and reliable hands, which make him an instant impact addition.

Jameis Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Key Team Additions:
1. O.J. Howard (TE)
2. Chris Godwin (WR)
3. DeSean Jackson (WR)

If anyone is about to have a breakthrough statistical year, it should be Jameis Winston: just look at this plethora of talent.
Camerone Brate (the Bucs' leading tight end) tied for the most touchdown receptions by a TE last year, and yet they added Howard, who is commonly recognized as the best all-around tight end in this year's draft (and that's saying something, considering this was the best tight end draft class in years).
Brate is 6'5, Mike Evans (the Bucs' leading wide receiver) is 6'5, and Howard is 6'6: all of them will likely be on the field at the same time, which should give defensive coordinators a reason to shudder.

What will truly give those coordinators nightmares, though, is a free-agent addition this offseason named DeSean Jackson, one of the league's best speedsters and deep-threats.
Now, Evans, Brate, and Howard will out-jump all the short and middle routes while Jackson streaks down the sideline: talk about matchup issues.

Oh, and that's not all: Chris Godwin has already performed on big stages multiple times, putting up monster numbers in three different college bowl games.
Also, he catches everything, which is perfect when he's paired up with Winston (who can throw anywhere in the field): put it in his radius, and he'll get it.

Marcus Mariota (Tennessee Titans)

Key Team Additions:
1. Corey Davis (WR)
2. Taywan Taylor (WR)
3. Jonnu Smith (TE)

Given Mariota's injury last season, it's relatively easy to predict that he will have a much better fantasy season this year as compared to last.
On the other hand, it's less simple to predict that he will have a monster season, but that's what we're seeing, based on a few factors, mostly including personnel.
The Titans love their tight ends: with Delanie Walker and Jace Amaro already on their team, they signed Phillip Supernaw to a long-term contract, and then drafted Jonnu Smith.
This provides extra bodies to block for Murray and Henry, but also huge targets for Mariota to throw to in the short-to-intermediate sections of the field, places where his accuracy excels.

Also, the Titans added two talented wide receivers in the draft to a stable that suddenly looks threatening: Corey Davis and Taywan Taylor.
Everyone has heard about Davis and how he is the all-time leader in receiving yards in major college football: that kind of production is extremely rare, and he has the route-running talent and size to back it up (6'3, 209 lbs).
But Taylor is another outstanding addition, bringing production, toughness, and more route-running talent.

Combine these two with veterans such as Harry Douglas, Rishard Matthews, and Tajae Sharpe, and suddenly, Mariota has weapons to work with.

Seahawks 2017 Draft Class

We’ve just experienced three days of pure off-season football fun, and the Seahawks walked away with eleven picks.

ELEVEN PICKS.
Given that, let’s see what is being said about these guys, and see which areas the Hawks improved in the most.

2nd Round (Pick 35) - Malik McDowell, DT/DE

“Has similar physical traits and abilities of Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner, but may not share their football character. McDowell lacked production along the interior and could benefit from a move to a defensive end spot in a 4-3 or 3-4 front. McDowell is raw, but when he flashes, it can be blinding. McDowell is an explosive, ascending prospect with All-Pro potential if he grows into his body and takes the necessary coaching.”

• NFL.com (Lance Zierlein)

“McDowell played both inside at defensive tackle and outside at defensive end for the Spartans. McDowell’s frame and playing style are better suited to him playing an edge defender role at the NFL level. When he is lined up inside at defensive tackle he wins with quickness or by stunting into another gap but McDowell’s length and agility are better served out on the edge. He can also use more of his pass-rush moves when lined up outside including his most consistent long-arm stab pass-rush move and his counters off it. McDowell’s three years of production and positional versatility will intrigue a lot of teams.”

• ProFootballFocus.com

“He’s got a lot of flexibility, he’s played all across the board. He’s been a defensive end, he’s been a nose tackle, he’s been a three technique, which bodes well for us. We see a lot of flexibility in him, he’s a unique player, he’s a very young man, 20 years old, who has a lot of growing. We think he has great upside, he had a fantastic sophomore season that we weighted heavily and we think we have a really special player and we’re really happy to get him. Had a good visit when he came in, all that, and it paid off.”

• Pete Carroll/John Schneider Interview (Post-Draft)

2nd Round (Pick 58) - Ethan Pocic, C

“Flexible, natural athlete with starting experience all along the LSU offensive line. Scouts say Pocic has the intelligence teams look for from a center and is highly regarded by LSU coaches and teammates in the locker room. Pocic is an excellent "work-up" blocker with the ability to thrive in a running game that operates in space, but his lack of power will produce some extremely challenging matchups for him at times.”

• NFL.com (Lance Zierlein)

“Pocic does a lot of things well and his ability to make difficult reach blocks make him a fit in any scheme. He’s sound in pass protection and even dabbled at offensive tackle to add some versatility, though he’ll get a shot to stick at center where he looks like one of the best the draft has to offer.”

• ProFootballFocus.com

“We think he’s the most flexible guy in the draft. He started a lot at center but he’s played at guard and he’s played tackle. He’s been a primary player for them in a great conference and just been steady as a rock. Really smart, intelligent, tough guy. Long, tall, he has all the right elements and the background was so versatile that we just thought that was a great opportunity. We really were hoping, there weren’t many offensive linemen in the draft as you’ve noticed that already, and we just thought he could fit into a number of spots and really help us out. We’ll see him at guard and tackle, knowing he can play center.”

• Pete Carroll/John Schneider Interview (Post-Draft)

3rd Round (Pick 90) - Shaquill Griffin, CB

“Griffin plays the game with an aggressive tilt both in coverage and in his run support. Griffin has good ball skills with a closing burst to challenge throws, but his anticipation is just average and he may not be able to play off of receivers and still be as effective with his ball production. Because he lacks long speed but is an effective tackler, he could be targeted by a defense favoring Cover-2 coverage.”

• NFL.com (Lance Zierlein)

“Griffin is another player who is likely to see his draft position lowered by what is a deep cornerback class. He ticks all the boxes teams are looking for in an athlete, with the size and raw athleticism that teams will love, but there will be some concern that he struggled as much as he did against Michigan’s Darboh, a draft-eligible receiver. Despite that though, he is coming off an impressive season, and if he can be coached to play inside releases on routes better than he did in 2016, he has a lot to offer teams in the NFL.”

• ProFootballFocus.com

“I think he’s going to be a special teams guy for us, too. You’ll see him on the perimeter, holding up guys and change and be the gunner and all that kind of stuff. Really good motor and the speed, you just can’t deny that it’s really there. He’s a terrific athlete. I see him as an outside guy. We’ll start there and try to transition to our style of stuff. His ability to play the ball, really his ball sense too, we think he’ll be a really good fit.”

• Pete Carroll/John Schneider Interview (Post-Draft)

3rd Round (Pick 95) - Delano Hill, S

“Hill has the size and physical demeanor to get a quality look from a team as a box safety, but his lack of coverage quickness and ball production won't help his chances. Hill will have to open eyes on special teams and as a lights out, downhill tackler to become an NFL factor.”

• NFL.com

“Hill is a unique prospect because all of his NFL Combine measurements are truly representative of his film. He ran an official 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the combine, and that solid straight-line speed is apparent from his reel. He measured out at 6-foot-1, 216 pounds, and he uses his size and natural strength well when attacking blockers at the line of scrimmage, as well as playing press coverage in the slot. There were some less-impressive numbers from Indianapolis, as well, and these too didn’t come as a surprise, given his film. He broad-jumped 9-foot-7, and had a short shuttle at 4.27 seconds; both of these figures illustrate his lack of elite change of direction and closing speed. While Hill isn’t a top-end athlete, his ability to tackle consistently and play in the box make him look like a potential NFL starter. Due to the strength of the safety class, he can probably be selected on day three, but teams looking for a strong safety capable of pressing from the slot, as well as playing the run, should have significant interest.”

• ProFootballFocus.com

“We know he can play safety. He’s played a lot and he’s very physical. He’s just right in the right framework of our style that we love to see. Tough and also, he’s played on the slot a lot, so he’s played kind of the nickel position quite a bit, which has shown the ability to cover receivers, which is good. As always, we’ll check our guys out see what the expanse of his play will bring us. We won’t be hesitant to see how he matches up with wide receivers. That’s a good thing for him, but there’s no question he can play safety. We would say strong and free, he looks more like a hitter, he’s really physical. Might be a little more like Kam [Chancellor] style, so we’ll see. He’s done everything their scheme showed, all of that, so it really was a good evaluation for us, we have a lot of hopes for this.”

• Pete Carroll/John Schneider Interview (Post-Draft)

3rd Round (Pick 102) - Nazair Jones, DT

“Phone booth defender who has good length and the power to fight for control at the point of attack. Jones' strength is his ability to play the run and he could be a physical fit for 3-4 teams looking to add a run defender to their linemen corps. His inability to get the quarterback will cap his draft slotting but he does have pro potential.”

• NFL.com (Lance Zierlein)

“An effective run defender, Jones will have to carve out a niche for himself on early downs. He has a great feel for the run game and he uses his length well to keep blockers off his frame, and he can do so from multiple positions along the defensive line. He’s built like an old-school 3-4 defensive end though he can line up and have success at 3-, 4-, or 5-technique. The inability to build upon his disruptive pass-rushing grades in 2014 and 2015 leave some concern about his prospects as a three-down player, but at just 22 years old, he has plenty of room to improve, and he remains a solid mid-round prospect at this stage.”

• ProFootballFocus.com

“Really fired up about that pick. John did a great job to nail him. He’s a big, if you look back at the guys we’ve had, we’ve had a lot of big three techniques. That‘s because we load up and play that running game in our division in particular. We’re hoping he’s going to fit that mold. You go back, you got some names that you can dig out that are big guys. He’s right there. Line of scrimmage guy, early down player, good technique guy, plays hard. Another young guy just coming into it, has amazing stories, as I’m sure you guys are already picking up on. We’re really excited about him. He really fits that role to kind of fit in the division, play that three technique, big and heavy. He’ll be able to play five technique as well, he’s really long and tall. We’re upping our depth and making it challenging and competitive. I think it was a great pick. I love it.”

• Pete Carroll/John Schneider Interview (Post-Draft)

3rd Round (Pick 106) - Amara Darboh, WR

“Darboh caught the attention of scouts from very early on in his final season at Michigan. Darboh's outstanding size will have some teams excited, but he needs to run well at the combine in order to be targeted as a "size/speed" prospect. He lacks the quickness and hands to make a living underneath, but has the physical traits and willingness to help as a blocker that could get teams to bite on the second day of the draft (Rounds 2-3). Scheme fit could determine whether he becomes a WR2 or just a guy fighting for snaps off the bench.”

• NFL.com (Lance Zierlein)

“Darboh is a well-built, possession receiver with experience running the full route tree in a pro-style offense. He finished the 2016 season as one of the highest-graded run-blocking wide receivers in the country, which should allow him to earn immediate playing time on special teams at the NFL level. Darboh has the ability to develop into a starting outside receiver, but his lack of elite athleticism limits his upside.”

• ProFootballFocus.com

“He’s young in football and looks like a professional wide receiver. That’s probably the most amazing thing about his story. He’s got, we see him as a blue grit kid that has overcome a ton in his life. I’ve never met anybody from Iowa that I didn’t like, he was living in Des Moines, Iowa [laughing]. No, he’s really a good route runner, he’s got really good ball skills, he’ll block, he’ll play on teams. He’s one of those kids that just checks off all those boxes and there’s still a lot out there in front of him. He’s a very respectful, very articulate kid who has been through a ton.”

• Pete Carroll/John Schneider Interview (Post-Draft)

4th Round (Pick 111) - Tedric Thompson, SS

“Thompson in an instinctive cover safety with strong ball skills and a history of production during his time at Colorado. Lacks physicality to operate around the box, but his football intelligence and playmaking skills will get him drafted and could give him a shot at eventually starting.”

• NFL.com (Lance Zierlein)

“Thompson is a safety that despite lacking top-end athletic measurable, is able to make up for it with great anticipation and awareness. His ball skills are every bit as outstanding as his stat line suggests, which makes him an interesting long-term study in terms of production vs. athletic capacity. With such a loaded class, his disappointing combine numbers are likely to push him to the middle rounds, but there’s a well-roundedness to his game that suggests he could develop into a starter.”

• ProFootballFocus.com

“Phenomenal ball skills.  I think he led the country in passes defensed.  He has great feet, coverage skills, competitor.  He’s got really good range, really good short area quickness.  He’s a really interesting guy; kind of a well-rounded dude. He’s a ball hog. That’s a big deal.  Not just the balls that he’s stolen, but the ones he’s knocked around, and he’s always around the football.  That’s a huge priority for us always.  It has to do with pass rush, too.  That’s why we started where we started with the draft.  That was a big consideration.”

• Pete Carroll/John Schneider Interview (Post-Draft)

6th Round (Pick 187) - Michael Tyson, FS

“Plays with pretty good football instincts and is competitive challenging the run, but his inconsistencies in deep coverage could cause teams to shy away from using him anywhere but near the line of scrimmage. Tyson has average safety skills and could benefit with more weight work if he has to become a full-time box safety with tight end coverage ability.”

• NFL.com (Lance Zierlein)

N/A

• ProFootballFocus.com

“Mike Tyson basically fits the profile that we’ve been looking for since we’ve been here as a corner.  He’s a big, tough, aggressive guy that, based on what we’ve seen, has really good coverage skills.  He’s primarily played inside.  He played a lot of Nickel for them last year, he got his hands on a lot of balls.  He has great ball skills and really strong in run support. He played Nickel.  He was a cover guy inside, so you have to have pretty good feet to play inside.  Our hope is that he can be a press corner outside.”

• Pete Carroll/John Schneider Interview (Post-Draft)

6th Round (Pick 210) - Justin Senior, OL

“Senior has long arms and strong hands, but his lack of bend and inconsistent footwork could cripple his NFL cause if he doesn't improve them. Senior is a right tackle only who has three years of experience against talented, SEC defensive ends but he struggled badly at times in the Senior Bowl. His size could get him drafted, but he has some work to do before ever hitting an NFL field.”

• NFL.com (Lance Zierlein)

“One of the more athletic tackles in the draft. Senior is going to need a complete re-tool of his pass-blocking technique. He also has a learning curve in understanding an NFL offense. Senior may not be a Day 1 starter but his physical ability will quickly make up for his learning curve and bad fundamentals. His versatility to play in any scheme and make any block will serve him well. His PFF grades were good, not great, at Mississippi State but in that offense and blocking schemes, he was their best player. Senior has a high ceiling and his physical tools and potential will probably lead to him being drafted ahead of most of the other offensive linemen entering the draft.”

• ProFootballFocus.com

“Justin had a much better junior year than he did a senior year.  A great kid, he’s from Montreal.  Very well spoken, very smart. Very, very good pass protector.  He got a little heavy for his senior year, and it’s probably something that we’re going to have to monitor here, when he gets in here, and that’s why he went so late.  He has a lot of tools to work with.  He just needs to decide if he wants to be a player or not. His junior year he played at 295 pounds, and his senior year he played about 315-317, something like that. Then, he continued to climb a little bit. He has a lot of talent, and did not have a great Senior Bowl week, and knows that I think this is a pretty cool wake-up call for him, being selected where he was selected.  Because, his scores with the coaches, the way they do it and everything, his pass protection is phenomenal. We’re going to move him on both sides.  He finished at right, we’re probably going to start him on the left side.”

• Pete Carroll/John Schneider Interview (Post-Draft)

7th Round (Pick 226) - David Moore, WR

N/A

• NFL.com

N/A

• ProFootballFocus.com

“We think that David [Moore] is a stud of a receiver.  He’s 219 pounds and he runs really fast and he’s really physical.  We brought him out here for a visit, and spent a lot of time with him with our docs, and team psychologist and the rest of our staff.  He’s a really cool kid, very tough, very aggressive.  Like Pete said, he’s like 222 pounds, running 4.43.  Maybe 4.38, depends on the launch.”

• Pete Carroll/John Schneider Interview (Post-Draft)

7th Round (Pick 249) - Chris Carson, RB

“Carson is an immediate winner of the eyeball test, but that hasn't always been true of his running style. His shift from finesse to a more power-based running style fits his size and physical attributes and gives him a better shot of playing on Sundays. Carson is suited to a downhill attack that allows him to be the hammer rather than the nail, but he's unlikely to create for himself with elusiveness or speed. If Carson works out well, he could hear his name called on Day 3.”

• NFL.com (Lance Zierlein)

N/A

• ProFootballFocus.com

“I was hanging on Chris Carson. He’s a guy that I found looking through the stuff late in the draft, kind of like we’ve done over the years.  I really love this guy because he is so physical and tough the way he ran.  You haven’t heard a whole lot about him, he hasn’t run the ball a lot.  But when he did, he, to me, made a great statement of his style and a style that we really covet. The second half of the season he really came on. I fell in love with how tough he is, and how aggressive he is.  That’s something that kind of falls in that same category, and we didn’t want to miss him.  There was a lot of activity around him, we thought, so we got him with that last shot, there. He’s really aggressive.  He hammers it.  I think you guys are really going to like him when you see him.”

• Pete Carroll/John Schneider Interview (Post-Draft)