We here at Mocking the Draft put together a bracket to match up the top 32 rookie quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends drafted in April. Put simply, it's a NCAA tournament style bracket to help us decide which rookie will score the most fantasy points this coming season. You're welcome to go back and see the original post here. Today's match up: Isaiah Pead vs Ryan Broyles.
Fantasy Football Rookie Bracket Match Up: Isaiah Pead Vs Ryan Broyles
We're down to the last match up of the first round. Our 16th seed Isaiah Pead was one of three second round picks for the St. Louis Rams, while 17th seed Ryan Broyles went to the Detroit Lions, also in the second round.
Why vote for Pead?
Pead is one of those explosive, change of pace backs. He can turn seemingly nothing plays, into big yard gains. He also offers receiving ability out of the backfield and could potentially motion to receiver on the occasional play. As a duel threat guy he should see time as at least a third down back and could be a frequently used check down target for quarterback Sam Bradford, given the poor quality of protection he got last year from the offensive line.
More after the jump.
Why vote against Pead?
The other side of that coin is that he’s a poor pass blocker. Some teams like to keep a back in for protection on third downs, and given the way the Rams offensive line preformed last year, they might need someone to help out this year. This could see Pead’s play time decrease. Steven Jackson is likely to be the workhorse in the backfield and if he stays healthy, Pead could struggle to see the field.
Why vote for Broyles?
Before Broyles went down injured, I thought of him as a first round prospect. He runs excellent routes to get himself open against man coverage and find holes in zone coverages. The Lions love to lean on Matthew Stafford's golden arm, and put plenty of receivers on the field to spread out the defense. With Nate Burleson not getting any younger, and Titus Young failing to blow anyone away, Broyles could see playing time. With the defensive focus on the other receivers (or just Calvin Johnson), Broyles route running could see him consistently get open against lesser corners and make him a favorable target for Stafford.
Why vote against Broyles?
Obviously you worry about the knee injury. With the depth they have at receiver, the Lions can afford to wait for Broyles to be absolutely 100 percent healthy and confident in cutting in and out of routes before letting him on the field. With the kind of injury he suffered, that could potentially take a while. On top of that, you can’t be sure he’ll be back to the level he was before the injury, and at 5’10”, 188lbs, you question his durability and ability to take hits with a seemingly fragile frame.
Let us know who you voted for and why in the comments below. On Monday we’ll take a look at an updated bracket to get a quick glance and the next string of match ups.
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