Fantasy Sports

Wiley (6'6/249) spent three years as a backup at Texas before transferring to TCU for the 2022 season. He stepped into a more prominent role in his first season on campus and totaled 245 yards plus four scores. In his fifth and final collegiate season, Wiley broke out with 520 yards and eight scores on 47 grabs. Wiley’s large frame and clean routes made it easy for him to earn targets and he rarely failed to bring in his looks. Pro Football Focus credited him with a lone drop on 120 career targets. On the other hand, he only broke five tackles throughout his career and averaged just shy of six yards after the catch per carry. Wiley is also a willing run blocker but could use a few more pounds in his lower body to give him a better base when taking on defenders. Wiley has the size to play in all phases on offense but rarely showed a ceiling as a pass-catcher. He will begin his career as a backup to Travis Kelce in Kansas City.

Tampa was thought of as a high-upside Day 2 cornerback, but he slid out of Day 2 and to the back end of the 4th round. A star basketball player whose father and sister both played college hoops, Tampa (6’007/189) was being recruited on the hardwood and as a wide receiver before ISU HC Matt Campbell cajoled him into giving defense a chance. He arrived on campus in August 2020 due to COVID and spent his freshman season honing his craft before starting five games with a pedestrian 53.6 defensive grade in 2021. Tampa came of age in his third year starting every game for the next two seasons while leading the Cyclones with 10 PBU and 80th%+ grades in coverage, run defense, and overall. He held opponents to a 46% catch rate with a dirt-low 70.7 NFL pass rating when targeted while being named Second Team All-Big 12. It was on from there, as Tampa continued to raise his game by charting 44 tackles, 9.0 PBU, and a scintillating 54.8 NFL pass rating, receiving Third Team All-Big 12 accolades for his exemplary play. A hamstring injury kept him from playing in the Senior Bowl while his 4.58s pro day 40-time (44th%) and 1.64s 10-yard split (22nd%) illustrated some of the top-end speed limitations he exhibited on film. Tampa did manage to run a 4.07s shuttle and 6.97s 3-Cone (65th%), though he didn’t perform any jumps or bench, which is an interesting choice from a former hoops star who has thrown down some impressive dunks. A filled-out and agile outside corner with an NFL frame, Tampa likes to take an aggressive, hands-on approach to redirect receivers and is adept at raking the hands at the catch point to create incompletions. His keen instincts make him an effective zone defender, which can help to mask his less-than-ideal long speed that can be exploited in man coverage.

Guerendo (6’/221) spent the bulk of his collegiate career as a backup at Wisconsin, playing behind Jonathan Taylor as a freshman before backing up fellow 2024 draftee Braelon Allen for a few years as well. He transferred to Louisville for a final season, only to play the role of understudy once again, this time to Jawhar Jordan, another 2024 prospect. Guerenedo made the most of his limited reps in 2023, totaling 810 yards and 11 scores on 132 attempts. He added 234 receiving on 22 grabs. Guerendo wasn’t a popular name in draft circles until crushing the combine. At his size, a 4.33-second 40-yard dash is among the best performances in the drill’s history. He also excelled in both the agility and explosion drills en route to a 9.9 RAS. Guerendo was efficient in his final season as both a receiver and a runner, but most of what evaluators will see in him is projection toward a ceiling, which he could hit with backfield whisperer Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers.

A four-star recruit and one of the country’s most sought-after running backs, Shipley (5’11/206) committed to Clemson over Alabama, Penn State, and many other Power Five schools. After a productive freshman season that saw him score 11 touchdowns, Shipley erupted for 1,182 yards and 15 scores on 210 carries in 2022. He also added 38 grabs for 242 yards through the air. Shipley’s numbers took a hit in his final season. His efficiency stats fell across the board and he took a backseat to Phil Mafah in the backfield, resulting in a 167/827/5 rushing line. Shipley hits the hole hard and navigates space well but doesn’t have home run speed or elite tackle-breaking numbers. The fact that he was relegated to backup duties in college suggests he will play the same role in the NFL.

Irving (5’9/192) is a junior who started his college career at Minnesota. After a 699-yard, four-touchdown freshman season, he transferred to Oregon, where he tallied back-to-back seasons of over 1,000 yards rushing on over six yards per carry. Irving’s pass-catching was also a nice complement to Bo Nix in the Ducks’ offense, totaling 413 receiving yards on 56 receptions last season. He didn’t test well at the combine, running a 4.55 40-yard dash - a slower time than expected for a back of his size. While Irving has the college production, his physical testing has decreased his draft stock. Irving profiles as a receiving back without the physical traits to get three-down work in the NFL. He will serve as a versatile backup to Rachaad White as a rookie.

An Australian native with an Aussie Rules background, Taylor (6’4/223) was destined for the NFL from the moment he took the field at Iowa. He earned Big Ten Conference Punter of the Year as a freshman while averaging 44.1 yards per punt and pinning his opponents inside the 20 on nearly half of his attempts. His average topped 45 yards on 162 punts over the next two seasons. In his final campaign, Iowa’s offense redoubled their effort to get Taylor drafted, granting him 93 punts that he converted into 4,479 yards, the current NCAA record for punt yards in a season. Taylor has good size for a punter and it shows in his booming kicks. He is the crown jewel of this punter class.

Wright fits the Dolphins’ modus operandi: He’s fast. Wright (5’10/210) saw a light workload as a freshman, a trend that would stick with him throughout his career, and topped 100 carries for the first time in his second season. He would improve to 146 attempts for 875 yards and 10 scores in the following season. Wright put together a career year in 2023, rushing for just over 1,000 yards on a measly 137 attempts. He also caught 22 passes for 141 yards. The pros in Wright’s profile jump out on tape. Wright has elite breakaway speed at a size that allows him to easily shed arm tackles at the second level. He confirmed this at the combine with a 4.38 40-yard dash. The biggest issue with Wright’s resume is his lack of usage. Despite elite per-carry numbers, the Vols never even flirted with a workhorse role for him. In Miami, he’ll likely have a rotational role in a backfield dominated by Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane. If Achane once again struggles with injuries, Wright would likely step into his role.

After spending two seasons at Independence Community College, Knight (6’0/233) transferred to UTEP where he would have three years of impressive production. The sixth year player finished the 2023 campaign with 140 tackles, 15.5 TFL’s and 4.5 sacks. In both 2022 as well as 2021, he would finish with 95+ tackles and 6.5 or more TFL’s. To go along with the production, Knight earned first team all C-USA honors and an invite to the Senior Bowl. On tape, the Lakeland, FL native shows why he had a ridiculous 75 stops in 2023. The MLB is gap disciplined and will not over pursue. He has a natural feel for the flow of the play that allows him to sift between blockers and make tackles. However, when he is sucked into blocks, he is often overwhelmed by the physicality and unable to make the play. Knight must attack blockers with aggression and look to be more physical at the point of attack at the next level. After running an impressive 4.63 40 yard dash (83rd%), he projects to have the ability to track down ball carriers from sideline to sideline. In coverage, the Lake Gibson HS product is a work in progress. He flashes the ability to play man coverage against tight ends and running backs and has the movement skills to do so, but he fails to put it together consistently. He managed above-average coverage in three games in 2023, finishing with a 75 or higher PFF grade; however he also had three games with a grade below 50. Knight tackles well, only missing on 9.9% of attempts, and would make for a fun special teams addition to any roster. Playing six seasons in college puts a ceiling on how much better he can become, but he’s a ready-to-go rotational linebacker on day three.

Starting his college career with four seasons at Michigan, All (6’4/252) transferred to Iowa for the 2023 season. His best year was 38 receptions for 437 yards and two touchdowns in 2021, before injuring his back to end his 2022 season early. After transferring to Iowa, he produced 21 receptions for 299 yards and three touchdowns before tearing his ACL to miss the final seven games. The season-ending injury prevented All from testing at the combine, and his medical evaluations will be major for teams looking to draft him. When on the field, All is elusive and can stretch the field. He profiles better as a receiver than a blocker at the tight end spot. If teams are confident in All’s medical checks, he can develop in a deeper tight end room to recover from the torn ACL and make an impact down the road.

Walker (6’1/176) committed to North Carolina Central, an FCS school, after high school but never played a snap for the Eagles as the 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He then transferred to Kent State and saw his first meaningful action in 2022, breaking out with 58 catches for 921 yards and 11 scores. Walker’s transfer saga continued after he went back home to play for North Carolina. The NCAA declared ineligible for the 2023 season but eventually reversed course after four missed games for Walker. Despite joining the team a month into the season, Walker proved to be an elite play-maker yet again, going for 699 yards and seven scores on 41 grabs. He punctuated his draft profile with a 4.36 40-yard dash and elite burst measurements. Both traits showed up on tape as he consistently beat defenders deep with his speed and by winning contested grabs. Walker’s route tree is limited to downfield duties, but that’s a valuable role in Baltimore’s offense. If Walker can earn playing time early, he will undoubtedly come up with a few splash plays in his first season.