The NFL Draft is complete, and each front office thinks they executed a perfect plan. Phrases such as “stayed true to our draft board,” and “took the best available player,” are recycled like yesterday’s laundry. But what does it all mean for our fantasy football teams?<\/p>\n
A great NFL draft\u00a0may not equate to a strong fantasy football draft. For our purposes, the main focus is determining which teams improved (and didn’t improve) their offensive potential. Here are the three winners and losers from the 2017 NFL draft for\u00a0fantasy football.<\/p>\n
Team:<\/strong> \u00a0Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/strong> No team had a better draft from a fantasy football perspective\u00a0than Tampa Bay. The biggest overall winner is their franchise quarterback Jameis Winston<\/a><\/strong>, who failed to have the breakout year many had predicted for 2016. Winston averaged 17.1 fantasy points per game, ranking 18th among all quarterbacks.<\/p>\n Tampa Bay already added free agent flyer DeSean Jackson<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to start alongside All Pro wide receiver Mike Evans<\/a><\/strong>. The Buccaneers then went and drafted an athletic freak in tight end O.J. Howard, who brings 4.51 40 yard dash speed with a 6’6″ frame. The Buccaneers also return tight end\u00a0Cameron Brate<\/a><\/strong>, who tied for the positional lead with eight touchdowns.<\/p>\n After Howard, their next two offensive picks are even better. Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin<\/strong> brings 4.42 40 yard dash speed and serves as a great backup to DeSean Jackson<\/a>. Godwin could impact the team this year, or learn behind the veteran Jackson who will turns 31 this season.<\/p>\n Their best selection is Jeremy McNichols<\/strong> of Boise State, who could be Tampa Bay’s starting running back in September. Jacquizz Rodgers<\/a><\/strong> is an underwhelming athlete, and veteran (and fellow Boise State alum) Doug Martin<\/a><\/strong> will serve a three game suspension<\/a> to start the season after testing positive last December for performance enhancing drugs. McNichols runs a 4.49 40 yard dash at 214 lbs, and was a dynamic receiver at Boise State. He was an incredible steal in the fifth round.<\/p>\n Jeremy McNichols to #Bucs<\/a>? DJax, Howard, Godwin? Pewter Pirates fantasy bonanza #NFLDraft<\/a><\/p>\n — For The Numbers (@OldSchool0909) April 29, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nImpact Picks:<\/strong> \u00a0O.J. Howard<\/a><\/strong>, TE (1st round); Chris Godwin<\/a><\/strong>, WR (3rd round); Jeremy McNichols<\/a><\/strong>, RB (5th round)
\nVerdict:<\/strong>\u00a0 Winners<\/p>\n\n