Ryquell Armstead will battle with Alfred
Blue for running back touches behind Leonard Fournette.
5.02 – RB Ryquell Armstead, JAX
Armstead should be a perfect Day 3 pick for the Jaguars. One of
the more aggressive and high-effort runners available in the draft,
the Temple product gives Jacksonville a viable alternative to
injury-prone Leonard Fournette without threatening his hefty workload
when he is healthy. Armstead does not offer much in the passing
game, however, so it's possible he would be locked in a committee
with Alfred Blue if Fournette cannot play for any length of time
in 2019. Armstead will likely have far more value to Fournette
owners than anyone else, but his likely spot on the depth chart
in the Jags' run-heavy offense puts him on the redraft radar.
5.11 – WR Hunter Renfrow, OAK
This will likely go down as my favorite pick of Day 3. Renfrow
initially made his name as Deshaun Watson's preferred target in
clutch situations before becoming the slot receiver no one could
not stop - including Alabama - during Clemson's national championship
win three seasons ago. Renfrow is not going to blow anyone away
with his athleticism, but the fact of the matter is very few college
defenders ever found a way to hang with him at the most important
part of big games. The Raiders signed Ryan Grant in free agency,
but it's a good bet Renfrow overtakes him sooner than later and
becomes the long-term slot option in Oakland - essentially offering
more upside in the same role Seth Roberts occupied in recent years.
Renfrow probably won't enjoy much redraft value this season, but
he is a player I want to find room for on my dynasty teams.
5.14 – RB Qadree Ollison, ATL
Atlanta drafted Ito Smith last year to take over for Tevin Coleman
in the likely event he left in free agency, and the addition of
Ollison feels like a bit of an insurance pick should Devonta Freeman
struggle to stay healthy again. Whereas Smith is more of a smallish
back, the 228-pound Ollison is more of a power back who will likely
form a committee with Smith if Freeman goes down again. Owners
do not need to concern themselves with the Pittsburgh product
in redraft leagues or until late in rookie drafts, but he could
find himself having some value in both sooner than later if some
things happen in front of him.
5.16 – RB Jordan Scarlett, CAR
Many were probably expecting Carolina to go with a bigger back
to take the carries off of Christian McCaffrey's plate, but the
Panthers instead go with a 208-pounder who is built more like
him than the big back they added last offseason (C.J. Anderson).
Scarlett runs physical for his size and is built to take a pounding,
running with the kind of violence that will make him a nice complement
to McCaffrey. With only Elijah Hood to compete with for backup
duties, the Florida product has a realistic shot of quickly emerging
as a top handcuff for fantasy purposes. With that said, Scarlett
offers little in the passing game, so McCaffrey will remain unchallenged
when it comes to receiving duties in the passing game. McCaffrey
owners might want to use their last pick in redraft leagues on
Scarlett, but it's hard to get excited about him for dynasty purposes.
5.33 – WR Darius Slayton, NYG
On a team that traded away Odell Beckham Jr. and is counting on
slot receiver types like Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate to carry
the passing game in 2019, Slayton has a decent shot at making
a bit of a splash as a vertical receiver with his 4.39 speed.
The 6-1, 190-pounder offers run-after-catch upside, but he has
much room to grow as a route-runner and doesn't do the greatest
job tracking the ball on downfield throws. I'm not sure he beats
out Corey Coleman or Cody Latimer this season, but a player who
compares favorably to D.J. Chark has a chance to stick - making
him worth considering in deeper rookie drafts.
Doug Orth has written for FF
Today since 2006 and been featured in USA Today’s Fantasy
Football Preview magazine since 2010. He hosted USA Today’s
hour-long, pre-kickoff fantasy football internet chat every Sunday
in 2012-13 and appears as a guest analyst on a number of national
sports radio shows, including Sirius XM’s “Fantasy Drive”.
Doug is also a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association.
