NFL Scouting Combine: Risers, Fallers, and Sleepers

The 2022 NFL Combine is in the books and the 2022 NFL Draft is just around the corner. Here, I’ll take a look at some of the biggest risers and fallers following the Combine results. A good Combine performance would make someone a riser, while a poor performance would make them a faller. You can check out our Rookie ADP to get a better idea of who has been rising and falling since the Combine. I’ve also got some sleepers to keep an eye on, so let’s get right into it with NFL Scouting Combine: Risers, Fallers, and Sleepers.

– Full 2022 Combine Results –

Risers

Chris Olave, WR Ohio State

When I watched Chris Olave’s tape, I was immediately drawn by his route running ability, which inevitably drew defenders closer to the line, allowing Olave to take the top off downfield. With this background, I was highly anticipating Olave’s 40-yard dash at the Combine to provide more insight into his ability to stride past defenders.

Then he went and posted a 4.39 time on his 40-yard. Exactly what I was hoping. Olave is poised to be one of the top receivers in this class with his ability to shake defenders underneath while also getting open downfield. That said, we should be fair and note that he did not experience as much success in the vertical, which to me suggests he will struggle with 50/50 balls, but he should find himself in a few of those situations with his pure speed and route running abilities.

Greg Dulcich, TE UCLA

There are some players that simply meet the eye test, and when you watch them perform you get excited and are ready to back them to the end. Greg Dulcich fits that category for me, as he was confident during the gauntlet drill, smoothly moving from catch to catch, all while keeping focus and running a consistent route.

Dulcich also demonstrated burst in his route running and in the gauntlet drill, which was evident in his 4.69 time in the 40-yard dash. While Dulcich will need to prove himself as a blocker to remain active in the NFL, his route running and speed excite me in terms of fantasy potential.

Skyy Moore, WR Western Michigan

Skyy Moore’s name was already rising before heading into the Combine and his testing simply confirmed much of the hype he was receiving. Moore is already poised to be an intriguing slot receiver, which of course typically has a lower ceiling in fantasy terms, but he tested slightly above where you would expect, helping put a spotlight on his potential as a starter in the NFL.

Moore finished with a 4.41 time in the 40-yard dash, a respectable time that puts him close to several of the other top prospects in this draft. He was middle of the road in his vertical and broad jump, making clear that his skillset is more oriented to route running rather than 50/50 balls, but Moore was steady and showed that he deserves to be in the conversation in fantasy drafts.

I would wait until at least the second round to target Moore in dynasty, as his Combine performance didn’t shoot him into an elite category, but nonetheless, he could easily be a value pick in this year’s draft.

Fallers

Isaiah Spiller, RB Texas A&M

I was already not terribly sold on Isaiah Spiller after watching some of his performances for Texas A&M. He largely strikes me as someone who will play a role in a running back by committee, limiting him to RB2 potential. Unfortunately, we also did not get a full set of information on his skillset from the Combine, as he chose not to perform in the 40-yard dash.

With that in mind, it’s hard not to buy into the narratives associated with choosing not to participate in a certain drill (i.e. that it must mean you expect to perform poorly), so I won’t focus too much on Spiller’s speed. What did stick out to me is his foot action during some of the running drills, which largely blended in with the crowd, whereas a prospect such as Kenneth Walker jumped out as someone who is technically more advanced.

Acknowledging that players can improve over time, I see Spiller as someone who should be targeted in late rounds of dynasty drafts, as there is potential value to be had, but I would be leery of targeting him in the first round.

Sam Howell, QB UNC

Similar to the next player in this category, this trend is more due to player perception than it is anything specific to the player. Sam Howell did not participate in any of the recorded drills at the Combine, only making an appearance in the passing drills. He isn’t the only quarterback who made that decision, but because of that, some quarterbacks improved their prospects, which means others inherently fall down the order.

Further, because Howell did not participate in the drills, it gives us less information about his skill set outside of what the tape shows. With Desmond Ridder having a good Combine and Kenny Pickett being successful (despite the narrative around hand size) I think Howell has faded in the conversation and is a hard player to project right now. He’s the type of player I’d look for late in a draft.

Treylon Burks, WR Arkansas

I put Treylon Burks in the fallers section for a very specific reason. I do think his Combine performance made his dynasty stock decline by coming up in the middle to bottom of the pack in most metrics.

However, this is likely a case of needing to match the tape with the testing results. And in some ways, I think his Combine performance can benefit dynasty managers, as post-Combine perception could cause him to fall farther than he should, providing a prominent value opportunity.

Burks’ Combine performance reminds us that there are many factors at play when it comes to predicting prospects, but that also provides an advantage to dynasty players who do more in-depth research to get the full picture.

Sleepers

Jelani Woods, TE Virginia

One of my favorite players to watch at this year’s Combine was Jelani Woods. The tight end out of Virginia first caught my attention with his 40-yard dash, where he recorded a 4.61. The speed combined with his body size made me want to look more into Woods as a potential pass-catching tight end.

While tight ends often take several years to really take off in the NFL, Woods showed enough signs of a starting tight end for me to consider him in the late rounds of dynast drafts, or to at least be someone I monitor over the next several years.

He has some weaknesses that could keep him off the field, such as a slight lack of confidence catching the ball and some struggles with blocking, which are worth considering. On the other hand, he played quarterback in high school, so has less experience at the tight end position, suggesting he has time and space to grow.

Tyquan Thorton, WR Baylor

This sleeper candidate is simple: pick the receiver with the fastest 40-yard time. It was exciting watching the Combine and seeing Tyquan Thorton initially have the record for the 40-yard dash before the official time came in at 4.28. Nonetheless, Thorton stilled tied for the fourth-best time in history.

While pure speed is only one aspect of the necessary skills at receiver, not to mention that speed can often be harmful if deployed at the wrong time, the potential ceiling provides plenty to get excited about. I certainly wouldn’t work hard to go after Thorton, but if you are already set towards the end of the draft and are looking for a player to take a flyer on, I like Thorton as a stash and monitor.

Desmond Ridder, QB Cincinnati

Desmond Ridder was one of the few quarterbacks who chose to run the 40-yard dash, where he posted the fastest time at a 4.52. I give a lot of credit to Ridder for making that decision, as he has only recently started to gain attention as a solid thrower, and demonstrating his speed could signal to some teams his abilities as a dual-threat.

Ridder has a similar body size to Lamar Jackson and while this is not a claim that Ridder is the next unanimous MVP, it does speak to the fact that he has characteristics akin to one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league. Combine that with a good showing in the passing drills and Ridder stands out as an interesting sleeper candidate, especially if the right team drafts him and finds creative ways to deploy his untapped potential.

– More Dynasty Content –

– Rookie ADP –

Sign up for PrizePicks with the promo code FACEOFF for a 100% match up to $100!

Sign up for BetUS today with the promo code FACEOFF and get a 125% match on your first deposit! Join here.