With less than a week to go, it’s time to stop speculating and start getting ready to absorb, react to, and act on everything that happens in Kansas City next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. For a lot of us, a big part of that is our dynasty rookie drafts. For the 18th time, I’m bringing you my top 100 players for fantasy leagues (including IDPs!). As always, we'll be joined by Matt Waldman, Jason Wood, and a ton of guests to broadcast and react live to the first round on our YouTube channel, and I’ll be updating this for draft capital and destination by Tuesday after the draft.
The Bloom 100 is ranked with the following type of dynasty fantasy football league in mind:
- Full IDP lineups, including DT and CB
- PPR, start 3 WR
- Deep lineups and rosters
Quick Links
- The Bloom 100 Players - 1-20
- The Bloom 100 Players - 21-40
- The Bloom 100 Players - 41-60
- The Bloom 100 Players - 61-80
- The Bloom 100 Players - 81-100
81. C.J. Johnson (WR - East Carolina) - Johnson is one of the best contested-catch winners in this class, and he’s strong after the catch. Can he separate in the NFL? Will an NFL team find a way to maximize what he does well? His upside is modest, but Johnson could stick around despite a lack of twitchiness.
82. Grant Dubose (WR - Charlotte) - Dubose has a long highlight reel of making preternatural adjustments to the ball in flight. He lacks the speed to project as a strong starter in the NFL and has the typical questions that come with a wide receiver prospect who excels on contested catches and isn’t always creating separation. If Dubose hits, his game as a natural hands catcher will probably be a big reason why.
83. Christopher Brooks (RB - BYU) - As Matt Waldman laid out in the incomparable RSP, Brooks is a power back with good feet who rarely fumbles, which fits the direction the game is going in the short term (and where it has been). Brooks might not get drafted, but if he makes a roster, he’ll probably be the best short-yardage option on the team.
84. Derius Davis (WR- TCU) - Davis should be on your list if you play in return yardage leagues. He’s an elite punt returner and good enough as a kick returner. He hasn’t been a highly productive receiver, but his team will try to carve out a role for him on offense to get his speed and quickness into play on more than just special teams. He also played on kick/punt coverage teams in college, so Davis is not a finesse player.
85. Will Mallory (TE - Miami) - Mallory isn’t that highly regarded and should go on the third day, but most of his value is as an athletic and polished receiver. Mallory was good enough in college to finish as the #2 all-time receiving tight end at a school that has produced more than its share of NFL players.
86. Christian Gonzalez (CB - Oregon) - Gonzalez is the favorite to be the first corner off of the board and a top-10 pick. He has a rare combination of length, speed, and explosive athleticism, and his ceiling is one of the best corners in the league. He can hang with the NFL’s best outside receivers, although that won’t always show up on the IDP stat sheet.
87. Deonte Banks (CB - Maryland) - Banks has been a riser since posting a 4.35 40, 42” vertical, and 11’4” broad jump at the combine. He can hang in run support but shines in man coverage, which will get him into the first round and on the field quickly.
88. Quan Martin (S - Illinois) - Martin has jump-out-of-the-gym athleticism and speed, and he’s probably the most athletic safety in this class. He was a productive tackler, but he might be best suited as a centerfielder, which isn’t ideal for IDP leagues.
89. Cameron Latu (TE - Alabama) - Latu converted from DE/OLB to tight end in 2019 and already looks natural running routes and catching the ball. He’s not going to add much after the catch with athleticism, but he can develop into a better pro than college player.
90. Will McDonald (EDGE - Iowa State) - McDonald was new to football as a junior in high school, but he obviously took to it quickly. He has the versatility to drop into coverage and was a very productive pass rusher who can get better in his approach to stacking moves.
91. Felix Anudike-Uzomah (EDGE - Kansas State) - If Anudike-Uzomah was more sudden and fast as a pass rusher, he might get into the first round, but his power and motor can still make him very productive as a pro if he’s opposite an elite pass rusher. The 2022 Big 12 defensive player of the year has heavy hands that can shed blockers and force fumbles, and his IDP will benefit from the new true-position approach keeping him from being lumped in with linebackers.
92. Nick Herbig (LB - Wisconsin) - Herbig is an edge/off-ball linebacker tweener without a clear home in an NFL defense. He’s not big or strong enough to be an edge defender yet, but if he is drafted to be an off-ball linebacker who contributes as a situational pass rusher, he could be an IDP hit.
93. Joey Porter Jr Jr. (CB - Penn State) - Porter’s NFL bloodlines help the case for him to go in the first round, but he won’t fit in every scheme. Wide receivers will have trouble getting into their route with Porter’s stubborn approach to press coverage combined with length and strength, but if they do get a clean release, they can beat him easily or draw a flag. Porter should be drafted to start right away, which means you can get some IDP production while we see whether he’ll be a boom or bust as a first-round pick.
94. Devon Witherspoon (CB - Illinois) - The best could be yet to come for Witherspoon, who had to be convinced to try football again in his high school junior year by his mom after previously focusing on basketball. He’s not a big physical corner, but he’s hypercompetitive and will be sticky in man coverage.
95. Emmanuel Forbes (CB - Mississippi State) - It is understandable to doubt the future of a 6-foot-1, 166-pound cornerback in the pros, but what if I told you that cornerback had 14 interceptions and six pick-sixes (an FBS record) in three seasons in the SEC? Forbes’ instincts and ability to play man and zone could get him into the first round, which shows you how advanced he is if a team is willing to overlook his rail-thin frame.
96. Matt Landers (WR - Arkansas) - When you’re 6-foot-4 and can run a 4.37 40, the NFL is going to try to develop you. Whether Landers develops the releases, routes, and all-around game to unlock that size/speed combination is unknown and probably won’t be known for a few years. He’s a good pick in leagues with practice squads.
97. Deneric Prince (RB - Tulsa) - Prince went to high school (Manvel, Texas) with likely high first-round pick and possible top-three pick Tyree Wilson. Prince could stick as a developmental #3 back because of his outstanding 4.41 40 straight-line speed at 6-foot-0 and 216.
98. Jahleel Billingsley (TE - Texas) - Billingsley started out at Alabama, transferred to Texas last year, then got suspended, then left the team. He’s unlikely to get drafted and may not even make it to a training camp, but if he can straighten things out, Billingsley has NFL-quality speed, quickness, and body control for a receiving tight end.
99. Daniel Barker (TE - Michigan State) - Barker is a pass-catching tight end who displays advanced route running and play at the catch point. He might not get drafted, but if he sticks, it will be because of his ability to contribute as a receiver.
100. Davis Allen (TE - Clemson) - Allen is very competent but not exciting as a receiver, and he’s good enough as a blocker to project as a potential starter down the line. His fantasy ceiling isn’t high, but he should be drafted to be a future starter.
Superflex Bonus Players
Here are three likely third-day picks to stash in Superflex Dynasty leagues in hopes of getting the next Brock Purdy:
Clayton Tune (QB - Houston) - Tune is athletic enough to be a threat as a runner and has an NFL arm and accuracy. He’ll need to rein in his penchant for taking risks, but the tangibles and intangibles are there to be a late-round hit at quarterback.
Jake Haener (QB - Fresno State) - Haener is below average in tools but above average in processing, accuracy, and intangibles. He’s the kind who is drafted to be a backup but sometimes ends up being better than the starter.
Stetson Bennett (QB - Georgia) - Bennett is very competitive, and he’s athletic enough to have 10 rushing scores. He’s also battle-tested at the highest levels of college football and used to overcoming long odds to matter on a big stage.
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