Ok, so that title may not seem like the most profound discovery of our time, and there have been plenty of highly touted Heisman winners who have amounted to nothing in the NFL (see Tim Tebow). That being said, three of this years finalists, including the Heisman winner Marcus Mariota, seem to be shaping up into clear-cut studs. Along with Mariota, WR Amari Cooper and RB Melvin Gordon are at the top of my list of rookies who can make an immediate impact in the NFL. While I admittedly am not the most avid college football fan, I have seen enough from these three guys to get me excited about this year’s fantasy draft.

Mariota and Jameis Winston are obviously the two QBs who are well ahead of the rest of the pack, similar to the Luck vs. RGIII draft from a few years ago. As far as I’m concerned I have no choice but to put Mariota ahead of Winston (both in the NFL draft as well as in any fantasy drafts). Their numbers and win-loss records in college are very similar, but Mariota is faster, more athletic, and carries none of the off-field baggage that Winston does (see Johnny Manziel). Let’s hope that the Redskins, Browns or Jets don’t ruin either of these could-be superstars.

I am already licking my chops about Amari Cooper; don’t be surprised to see some of your fantasy buddies (myself included) reaching to the early/middle rounds to draft him. He absolutely destroyed every Alabama receiving record this season, and was still able to beat defenses despite being double-teamed a large percentage of the time. He’s got great speed, good size (6’1″ 210 lbs.) and runs clean routes. He’s definitely capable of being that big-body outside #1 receiver, but he works the middle as well and he can mix it up in the ground game with some reverses and other trick plays. I see this guy shaping up to be somewhere between Antonio Brown and a healthy motivated Percy Harvin.

Much like Cooper, Melvin Gordon was a stat-producing freak this year. He should definitely be in the top-5 running backs in the draft and depending on which NFL team lands him, he could be in the top-25 fantasy RB ranks. Again, he’s physical and has the speed and elusiveness to go along with it. From what I’ve seen and heard he’s a smart runner and has good hands; he’s been compared to Jamaal Charles and even LeSean McCoy. In the last five years the value and return on investment at the running back position can tend to be a crapshoot, but I’m hoping he falls in line with JC or Shady, rather than the Montee Balls and Bishop Sankeys of the world. (Maybe I just have a blind spot where Wisconsin RBs are concerned… I certainly have plenty of experience being a frustrated Montee Ball owner the past couple years)