KEYBOARD GM’s
Twitter and Facebook GM’s are becoming an epidemic – not excluding the Packers faithful, either. If you want evidence, Exhibit A is the immediate reaction to the Green Bay Packers’ first selection of the 2020 NFL Draft. In Dynasty football, those self-proclaimed geniuses can actually put their money where their mouth is.
Obviously it’s not an exact science. You aren’t literally building a 53-man roster, drafting interior lineman, hiring and firing coaches, developing a culture, etc. But you are building a roster full of a particular type of player you think helps your team win.
MOCK DRAFTS
Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Evan Silva, Matt Miller (my personal favorite). All of them are in the mock draft scene. But there are literally thousands more taking a swing at them.
Let’s be real, mock drafts are pretty much love/hate, largely because it’s all theoretical. None of these experts know for sure what’s going to happen.
Well, Dynasty football is built on theoreticals.
Mock drafts are one of many tools for Dynasty league players to sift through and, probably, over-analyze. At this current time in mid-February, various mock experts have Green Bay selecting either a cornerback or offensive linemen. But the beauty is, nobody knows. They may take a wide receiver, a linebacker, a rush edge…another quarterback, anyone?
THEORETICAL DYNASTY PICKS FOR PACKERS
Since fantasy football is based on theoreticals, we’re going to be Packer-specific here. Throughout the next handful of Dynasty articles, I will pick a position player who “theoretically” could be available and selected by Green Bay at 29 overall.
Keep in mind, these are not players I think the Packers should take, just players they could take.
Then, I’ll explain how they would fare in both the Dynasty draft and for your Dynasty team.
The NFL Draft is about 75 days out, so let’s have some fun.
RONDALE MOORE, WR, PURDUE (Peds Rank: #11)
I can't stop watching Rondale Moore highlights
And just think, we get to watch him for at least 2 more seasons in college. https://t.co/NjGTCdI5B3
— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) October 21, 2018
ODDS OF PACKERS DRAFTING MOORE
By now, we all know the story of the 2020 draft. It was a sure-fire bet that Green Bay was going to snag another weapon for Aaron Rodgers in the form of a wide receiver at the end of Round 1 – until they didn’t. Green Bay failed to not only pick a wideout in the first round, but the entire 7 rounds.
Oddly enough, a very similar scenario is staring Green Bay in the face.
The wide receiver class is very deep for the second straight year. There are a crop of play makers that will be ripe for the picking at the back end of Round 1. Rashod Bateman (Minnesota), Terrace Marshall Jr. (LSU), and Kadarius Toney (Florida), among others, are names that stand out.
But call me excited if they go with the electric 5-foot, 9-inch, 180 pound playmaker Rondale Moore out of Purdue.
Knowing Matt LaFleur’s tendency to use some gadget players like Tyler Ervin and on a smaller scale, Tavon Austin, Moore would be an upgrade in this regard. Obviously you’re not looking to use pick 29 for a gadget player.
The biggest question mark about Moore is his health. He played in just seven combined games the past two seasons. Prior to that, the heavily recruited speedster blew up on the scene as a freshman. His draft stock has wavered a bit because of some unknowns.
What is known, though, is his raw talent.
Since there will be so many potential wide receivers that fit the role Moore does (Toney and Marquez Stevenson of Oklahoma for example), the odds of the Packers selecting him are not super high. It will all be based on preference.
MOORE’S ROLE IN GREEN BAY
Listen, every Packers fan loves Randall Cobb. Moore fits that mold perfectly. They are similar in stature, and have some of the same play-making ability. For Dynasty purposes, consider Moore to have both a higher floor and ceiling than Cobb.
Looking at Cobb’s career in Green Bay, he averaged 6.4 targets per game and topped out at 91 receptions in 2014. While these stats are solid – and reachable for someone with Moore’s ceiling – Dynasty drafters have to take into account that this isn’t the Mike McCarthy offense Cobb was under. Matt LeFleur’s offensive philosophy has a stark contrast.
If you haven’t paid attention, Davante Adams’ success since LaFleur took over stems from being versatile. He has lined up everywhere, including 46.6% of his offensive snaps in the slot, which is likely where Moore would line up, during a dynamic 2020 season.
LaFleur is known for not using a prototypical slot receiver, instead choosing bigger bodies – Tajae Sharpe and Corey Davis in Tennessee, the trio of Cooper Kupp (6’2”, 208 pounds believe it or not), Robert Woods and Sammy Watkins in Los Angeles, and Mohamed Sanu in Atlanta.
It would be interesting to see what role Moore is put in. Could he play the slot and X or Z? Might be a tall task. LaFleur has shown the propensity to be creative with his offensive formations, motion and general scheme, though.
One thing is for certain, he would get every opportunity to play right away.
DYNASTY DRAFT STATUS
I have Moore currently ranked #11 in my rookie Dynasty rankings for 2021, and #5 WR behind Jamar Chase, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonte Smith, and Terrace Marshall Jr.
If he ends up on the Packers, it more than likely bumps him up a spot or two in my overall rankings. That also will depend on landing spots for other rookies, as always.
And here’s the thing about Dynasty, you have to take into account not just the talent of the player, or how they’d produce in the upcoming season, but the opportunities coming their way in the future.
Tyler Ervin and Tavon Austin are likely gone. After the 2021 season, literally all four current wideouts in Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown will be free agents. The cherry on top for Dynasty owners is his age. He will have just turned 21 over the summer.
All of this only helps Moore’s Dynasty draft status if owners are doing their homework in terms of future outlook. Obviously for Packers fans, it’d be nice to sign Adams to an extension and potentially bring back either MVS or Lazard. Regardless, there should still be opportunities for Moore in 2021.
Moore is a sure fire first round pick in Dynasty rookie drafts with a landing spot in Green Bay, and should be going in the Top 10.
FINAL ANALYSIS
If I’m anywhere between picks 8-10 in a Dynasty PPR rookie draft, and Moore lands in Titletown, he would be on my target list.
It’s ideal if he is your WR4 in your lineup to start the year. Expectations should definitely be tempered to start his rookie season, but look for some growth as the year moves along. He could come in valuable as a FLEX play during bye weeks, or a fill-in if your squad is injury plagued.
Honestly, it’s 2022 that you should be really excited for, so whatever you’d get in 2021 would be gravy on your mashed potatoes.
And of course, if you do draft Moore, you’re also hoping Aaron Rodgers sticks around for a while.
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