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The Football Guru

2012 NFL Draft - Round 4

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STL - Chris Givens, WR Wake Forest

The Rams' early-round selections last year (Greg Salas, Austin Pettis) have already been put on notice. Along with Brian Quick, Givens will join Danny Amendola and Steve Smith in a vastly improved receiving corps. Givens can be ignored in redraft leagues, but he could easily slide into the starting lineup in 2013 if Smith is unable to perform the way the Rams hope he can, so keep him on your radar in dynasty leagues.

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MIA - Lamar Miller, RB Miami

A interesting selection for the Dolphins because his track speed complements Reggie Bush's elusiveness and Daniel Thomas' improving ability as a power runner, Miller doesn't stand a great chance at regular time in the backfield anytime soon. Therefore, he can be ignored in redraft and dynasty leagues for now. However, he does add a big-play element to an offense that needs it.

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CLE - Travis Benjamin, WR Miami

Much like a receiver like T.J. Graham, Benjamin is undersized and being drafted for his speed and return abilities. At 5-10 and 172 pounds with small hands, his offensive role figures to be minimal, so he can be ignored in redraft and dynasty formats.

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WAS - Kirk Cousins, QB Michigan State

How much did the Shanahans want to move on from Rex Grossman and/or John Beck? Enough to draft two QBs in the first four rounds. Cousins' immediate fantasy fortunes are pretty much squashed unless Robert Griffin III becomes an annual injury risk, so this pick was made more with securing a smart, heady backup for RGIII that could be worth a second-round pick to a QB-needy team down the road if he shows well in limited action.

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CAR - Joe Adams, WR Arkansas

One of the best returners in the country, Adams' arrival may spell the end for Armanti Edwards. His size doesn't bode well for him to ever be a weekly starting WR in the league, but the same thing was also said about his new teammate (Steve Smith). Most likely, he'll see immediate action in three- and four-WR sets. Once again, redraft owners can ignore him, but he is explosive enough to have some long-term value, especially if Brandon LaFell doesn't meet the high expectations Carolina has for him.

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SEA - Robert Turbin, RB Utah State

While not a carbon copy of Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks land another power back to give them some insurance against a Lynch injury (or letdown). He wasn't exactly asked to do much in the passing game, so he'll strictly be asked to contribute as a runner only early on. He should quickly become Lynch's main handcuff for fantasy purposes, but he is unlikely to be much more than a committee back even if Lynch was lost for a long period of time.

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KC - Devon Wylie, WR Fresno State

Love the player, don't love the fit. A player who can contribute immediately on special teams, Wylie figures to be stuck initally behind Steve Breaston in the slot. Breaston gets a bit more expensive (against the cap) in the coming years, so perhaps Wylie will be given a redshirt year on offense to learn the offense before replacing Breaston in 2013. Ignore Wylie for now in redraft leagues, but he has a shot at doing some things down the road.

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SD - LaDarius Green, TE Louisiana-Lafayette

Perhaps realizing Antonio Gates' football mortality, Green is an incredibly-talented pass catcher who should be given 2-3 years to watch one of the best players at the position. The Chargers love to use their TEs, so Green could bump Randy McMichael from the TE2 slot and contribute a bit in 2012 with a good training camp. As a result, he has a decent shot at rookie-year production given Gates' foot woes. His dynasty value is also much higher than one might expect from a mid-fourth round pick.

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CHI - Evan Rodriguez, TE Temple

Further proof the Bears have moved away from OC Mike Martz, Chicago drafts a 6-1, 242-pound TE who figures to only see action on passing downs. Although he did show great straight-line speed for a man his size at the Combine, he'll start as an obvious backup to Kellen Davis and isn't likely to see enough time in 2012 to make a fantasy impact. His name can pretty much be pushed aside by dynasty-league owners as well.

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CIN - Orson Charles, TE Georgia

Interesting pick by the Bengals. Charles has enough talent to start for a handful of teams as a rookie, but he'll be a long-term TE2 behind Jermaine Gresham for the foreseeable future. What this selection could signal is that OC Jay Gruden wants to go with more two-TE sets and use Jordan Shipley less. Charles could have some value in redraft leagues if Gresham suffers an injury in 2012, but he seems unlikely to be a fantasy factor anytime soon unless Gruden has decided he wants his offense to emulate the Patriots' attack, in which case Charles would serve in the Aaron Hernandez "move" role since he isn't exactly an in-line option.

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MIN - Jarius Wright, WR Arkansas

Despite the Vikings' recent addition of Jerome Simpson, Wright may have the best shot of any third-day pick thus far to make an immediate contribution in fantasy. His forte as a Razorback was hitting the deep ball, but he is well-rounded receiver who could easily be a starter in Week 1. Obviously, this makes him a worthwhile late-round pick in redraft leagues and one of the better dynasty options at his position in this rookie class.

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HOU - Keshawn Martin, WR Michigan State

A change from the typical Texan receiver, Martin's arrival is further proof Houston is moving on from Jacoby Jones. Martin isn't all likely to see the field much on running downs, but will contribute immediately on special teams. He does a fine job varying the speed in his routes and can beat defenders over the top. However, he can pretty much be ignored for now in redraft and dynasty leagues in Houston's run-based offense.

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NO - Nick Toon, WR Wisconsin

People may be expecting Toon to be a deep threat to replace Robert Meachem, but the Badger is more like Marques Colston. Toon is a strong route runner who could easily step in for Colston if he continues to struggle with injuries. He is a capable blocker as well, meaning he won't have to leave the field if he can somehow find playing time ahead of Lance Moore, Adrian Arrington and Devery Henderson. As is the case with most Saints receivers, he'll make a splash or two this season, but he can be passed over in redraft leagues while his dynasty value is also minimal given the spread-the-wealth nature of the Saints' passing attack.

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NYG - Adrien Robinson, TE Cincinnati

And now we know why Martellus Bennett was given a one-year contract. Robinson is a very talented and impressive physical specimen that needs to be developed but could emerge as a fantasy TE1 in the near future, especially under the tutelage of highly-respected position coach Mike Pope. Bennett should hold the fort down in 2012, but if Robinson progresses, he could move into the starting lineup in 2013. If he shows an ability to learn quickly, the 6-4, 265-pound may become the best TE the team has enjoyed since Jeremy Shockey.

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MIN - Rhett Ellison, FB/TE USC

With Jim Kleinsasser moving on, the Vikings are likely picking his successor here. Minnesota has sufficient TE depth and it is quite likely Ellison will play more fullback anyway, so there is nothing to see here in fantasy.

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MIN - Greg Childs, WR Arkansas

The Vikings follow up their previous pick of an Arkansas receiver (Jarius Wright) with another one later in the round. Childs was easily the best Razorback receiver in 2010 but tore his his patella tendon and obviously struggled to flash his previous form in 2011. If he's ever able to recapture his 2010 form, the 6-3, 220-pound receiver is a steal this late. Barring a stellar training camp, he should probably go undrafted in redraft leagues but he makes an interesting dynasty league stash all things considered.

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MIN - Greg Childs, WR Arkansas

The Vikings follow up their previous pick of an Arkansas receiver (Jarius Wright) with another one later in the round. Childs was easily the best Razorback receiver in 2010 but tore his his patella tendon and obviously struggled to flash his previous form in 2011. If he's ever able to recapture his 2010 form, the 6-3, 220-pound receiver is a steal this late. Barring a stellar training camp, he should probably go undrafted in redraft leagues but he makes an interesting dynasty league stash all things considered.

 

 

Shhhhh!

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