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
41. Nolan Smith (EDGE-Georgia) - Before true position, Smith would probably be doomed to linebacker status because of his 6-foot-2, 238-pound frame and appear lower on this list. He’s good enough in run support to be more productive in the tackle column in the pros, and he can probably harness more of his elite athleticism (4.39 40, 41.5” vertical) in the pros as a pass rusher.
42. Lukas Van Ness (EDGE-Iowa) - Van Ness could be the third edge defender off of the board, and there’s a sense that his potential hasn’t been tapped yet as a pass rusher since he wasn’t even a starter at Iowa. He’s big and powerful with a great first step, and his motor runs hot. Van Ness can also line up inside and give guards a lot of trouble one-on-one. If his pass-rush approach gets refined, he could be just behind Anderson and Wilson in IDP value, but it might take more time to get there.
43. A.T. Perry (WR-Wake Forest) - Perry is excellent at creating separation by changing speeds and breaking sharply in his routes, and he’ll be a good zone beater. He’ll have to become more physical to hit his ceiling in the NFL, but he’ll endear himself to his quarterback by consistently getting open and giving the passer a huge catch radius.
44. Xavier Hutchinson (WR-Iowa State) - Hutchinson lacks any outstanding physical traits, but he’s tough and smart with good hands. What he doesn’t have in physical gifts, he more than compensates for with route-running and prowess after the catch. He’s a Matt Waldman favorite and should outplay his draft slot.
45. Jayden Reed (WR-Michigan State) - Reed has field-stretching speed, but he can also create separation with his footwork, breaks, and change of speed in routes. He’s undersized at 5-foot-11 and 187 pounds but executes like a bigger receiver at the catch point. He’s also a good punt returner with three career scores. Reed will have to learn to beat press coverage to hang outside, but if he does, he will outproduce a lot of receivers who will go ahead of him in the draft. He’s also a Matt Waldman favorite.
46. Zach Kuntz (TE-Old Dominion) - Kuntz is the most athletic tight end in this class with some ridiculous measurables (6-foot-7, 255-pound, 4.55 40, 40” vertical, 10’8” broad jump, 4.12 short shuttle, 6.87 three-cone, 23 reps on the bench). He has competitive toughness and a huge catch radius but otherwise is a project - with a fantasy ceiling as high as any tight end in this class.
47. Antonio Johnson (S-Texas A&M) - Johnson was a very productive box safety who led his team in tackles per game, so even though he won’t be the first safety off of the board in the draft, he perhaps should be the first safety taken in IDP rookie drafts. He can also cover tight ends but should still spend more time close to the line of scrimmage than Brian Branch, so it’s not clear which should go first for fantasy.
48. Brian Branch (S-Alabama) - Branch projects as a do-everything safety in the mold of Minkah Fitzpatrick, and he played the same role as Fitzpatrick in Alabama’s defense. Like Fitzpatrick, his coverage ability might keep him away from the action at times and limit his fantasy upside, so his status as a likely first-round pick might create unfair expectations in IDP leagues.
49. Elijah Higgins (WR/TE-Stanford) - Higgins’ value depends on whether he is classified as a wide receiver, like he was at Stanford, or a tight end, as some project him in the pros. Either way, his size/speed combination will create mismatches. He doesn’t look like a big play threat or red zone specialist, so Higgins probably doesn’t have that high of a fantasy ceiling.
50. Roschon Johnson (RB-Texas) - We can’t hold Johnson’s lack of college production against him - after all, he was playing behind the #1 player on this list. He is a big, physical runner. But he's not a plodder, and he can stay on the field for all four downs, including special teams. Johnson could have a better pro career than college as long as he isn’t behind a back as talented as Bijan Robinson.
51. Myles Murphy (EDGE-Clemson) - Murphy looks the part with a huge frame and the speed to turn the corner as an edge rusher. He’s also strong with heavy hands that will give offensive linemen fits. He’s not anywhere close to a finished product as a pass rusher, and all of his talent hasn’t turned into the kind of production you would expect from a prospect with his package of physical gifts. He could go in the first round, but don’t expect him to make an instant impact.
52. Israel Abanikanda (RB-Pittsburgh) - Abanikanda broke out and carried the Pitt offense after Kenny Pickett left for the pros. His feet, vision, burst, and second gear will translate, but he’s not a powerful back. He’s an unknown in the passing game, and he has only really excelled for one season. He’s more likely to be a committee back than a starter.
53. Rashee Rice (WR-SMU) - Rice broke out in 2022, making big plays in the air downfield routinely and breaking Emmanuel Sanders’ school single-season receiving record. He’s inconsistent and doesn’t have plus size or speed, so it’s not clear if his game will translate to the pros without more development.
54. Michael Wilson (WR-Stanford) - It’s hard to know just how good Wilson can be because he has only played 14 games over the last three years. He’s a smart player with great routes and game at the catch point in an NFL-ready 6-foot-2, 213-pound frame. But for fantasy, he might not be that exciting.
55. Deuce Vaughn (RB-Kansas State) - Vaughn is the #2 all-time rusher at Kansas State behind Darren Sproles, and like Sproles, he uses his pocket rocket (5’5” 179) frame to his advantage. He’ll never be a full-time back, but he’s an accomplished receiver and can create big plays. With more committee backfields around the league than ever, Vaughn can be fantasy relevant in the right spot.as more of a possession receiver than a big play threat.
56. Sean Tucker (RB-Syracuse) - Tucker has the instant acceleration, footwork, vision, and patience of a good zone back, and he has shown some ability as a receiver. He’s not a creative back or an excellent tackle-breaker, so his ceiling isn’t that high. If he falls in the draft, it’s probably because of concerns about durability after he couldn’t work out at the combine or his pro day.
57. Chase Brown (RB-Illinois) - Brown has good feet and vision, and he has the speed and explosion to post big plays in a one-cut-and-go system. His game isn’t very well-rounded, and he could languish as a limited role back if he doesn’t continue to improve as he did in college. Like so many of the backs who will go in the 3rd-4th round range, landing spot and opportunity will help us sort out where to take him in rookie drafts.
58. DeWayne McBride (RB-UAB) - McBride is a ready-made zone runner with good feet, vision, balance, and lateral agility, and he was hyperproductive over the last two years. He has barely been used as a receiver and pass blocker and doesn’t offer plus speed or initial burst, so he’ll need to be in an ideal role and offense for his numbers to translate.
59. Tiyon Evans (RB-Louisville) - Evans runs with urgency and power, and he has good speed for a 5-foot-9, 225-pound back. He has had ankle issues and a limited sample size at the FBS level, so he’s a true sleeper who might not get drafted but still has a ceiling similar to backs who will go in the 3rd/4th round.
60. Dontayvion Wicks (WR-Virginia) - Wicks looked like he might be one of the best receivers in this class in 2021, but his production dropped off in 2022. He’s got a big frame and was a big play machine before the offense changed last year, but drops are a big issue. He’s a boom/bust prospect. We’ll get a better idea where to take him when we see how much draft capital is invested in his future.
