Dynasty Rookie Spotlight: Nelson Spruce, WR St. Louis Rams

Nelson Spruce, WR St. Louis Rams

Height: 6’1″
Weight: 206 Pounds
Hands: 10″
Vertical Jump: 35″
Broad Jump: 9’6″
40-Time: 4.69

NFL Comparison: Danny Coale, Jordan Shipley

Mockdraftable Comps: Rashard Higgins, Hunter Sharp, Roger Lewis, Jordan Shipley, Alan Booner, Bralon Addison

Scouting Notes:

UDFA Nelson Spruce performed poorly on our WR route scorecards from inside Lucas Oil Field. His best drill was the gauntlet, which is somewhat encouraging for the short-range pass catcher he projects to be at the next level. Although the Rams went WR-heavy during the draft, the door is slightly ajar for Nelson Spruce since the WR deck is being completely reshuffled in Los Angeles.

During his four years at Colorado, Spruce was plain and simple a 11.5 ypc guy. However, he did average nearly an impressive 100 receptions per season over his last two years, and totaled a 12 TD season in 2014. Otherwise, his production in the end zone was relatively meager.

Spruce tends to body-catch, but flashes ability to extend and hands catch away from his body when necessary. He’s also a little trickier after the catch than you might expect, he’s a bit of a jitterbug. However, his separation skills prior to the catch are questionable. He is a willing blocker, albeit not exceptional and one.

Nelson Spruce is only a deep watch-list guy in dynasty leagues at the moment, nonetheless he was a productive college player (see his long list of awards below) who landed in a situation where opportunity abounds.

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Award info via CU athletic department

NELSON SPRUCE RECORDS LIST (43)
(41 Colorado; 2 Pac-12)
(*—set record prior to this season)

Most Games Started By An Offensive Player—46, by Nelson Spruce, WR, 2012-15)
Old Record: 44, by Joe Garten, OG, 1987-90 and Bryan Stoltenberg, C, 1992-95)

*Most Pass Completions, Duo, Game—19, Sefo Liufau to Nelson Spruce vs. California at Berkeley, Sept. 27, 2014.

*Most Pass Completions, Duo, Season—107, Sefo Liufau & Nelson Spruce, 2014 (Liufau-to-Spruce 105; Spruce-to-Liufau 2).

Most Pass Completions, Duo, Career—217, Sefo Liufau & Nelson Spruce, 2013-15 (Liufau-to-Spruce 213; Spruce-to-Liufau 4) Old Record: 142, Cody Hawkins & Scotty McKnight, 2007-10 (Hawkins-to-McKnight 141; McKnight-to-Hawkins 1).

Most Touchdown Passes, Duo, Season—13, Sefo Liufau to Nelson Spruce, 2014 (includes one from Spruce to Liufau).

Most Touchdown Passes, Duo, Career—18, Sefo Liufau-to-Nelson Spruce, 2013-15 (includes one from Spruce to Liufau)
Old Record: 15, Cody Hawkins-to-Scotty McKnight, 2007-10.

*Most Receptions, Half—10 (for 81 yards), Nelson Spruce vs. Washington in Boulder, Nov. 1, 2014 (second); 10 (for 71 yards), Nelson Spruce vs. California at Berkeley, Sept. 27, 2014 (second).

*Most Receptions, Game—19 (for 179 yards), Nelson Spruce vs. California at Berkeley, Sept. 27, 2014. (Pac-12 Conference Record)

*Most Receptions, Two Consecutive Games—32, Nelson Spruce, Sept. 20-27, 2014.

*Most Receptions, Three Consecutive Games—39, Nelson Spruce, Sept. 13-27, 2014.

*Most Receptions, Four Consecutive Games—49, Nelson Spruce, Sept. 6-27, 2014.

*Most Receptions, Five Consecutive Games—56, Nelson Spruce, Aug. 30-Sept. 27, 2014.

*Most Receptions, Six Consecutive Games—66, Nelson Spruce, Sept. 20-Nov. 1, 2014.

*Most Receptions, Season—106 (for 1,198 yards), Nelson Spruce, 2014.
Most Receptions, Career—294, Nelson Spruce, 2012-15 (Pac-12 Conference Record)
Old Record: 215, Scotty McKnight, 2007-10

*Most Receptions, First Game of Career—8, Nelson Spruce vs. Colorado State in Denver, Sept.1, 2012 (64 yards).

Most Receptions By Class/Season, Freshman (Redshirt)—44 (for 446 yards), Nelson Spruce, 2012.
Most Receptions By Class/Season, Junior—106 (for 1,198 yards), Nelson Spruce, 2014.

Most Receptions By Class/Season, Senior—89 (for 1,053 yards), Nelson Spruce, 2015
Old Record: 78 (for 1,013 yards), D.J. Hackett, 2003

*Most Receptions By Class/Game, Freshman (Redshirt)—10 (for 98 yards), Nelson Spruce vs. Utah in Boulder, Nov. 23, 2012.

*Most Receptions By Class/Game, Junior—19 (for 179 yards), Nelson Spruce vs. California at Berkeley, Sept. 27, 2014.

Most Receptions By Class/Game, Senior—11 (for 90 yards), Nelson Spruce vs. UCLA at Pasadena, Oct. 31, 2015
Tied Record: 11 (for 131 yards), Derek McCoy vs. Washington State in Boulder, Sept. 13, 2003

*Most Receptions By Two Players, Game—25, Nelson Spruce (19) and D.D. Goodson/Tyler McCulloch (6), at Cal, Sept. 27, 2014.

*Most Receptions By Two Players, Season—156, Nelson Spruce (106) and Shay Fields (50), 2014.

Average Receptions Per Game/Season—8.33 (106 in 12 games), Nelson Spruce, 2014.

Average Receptions Per Game/Career— 6.00 (294 in 49 games), Nelson Spruce, 2012-15
Old Record: 4.72 (156 in 33 games), Paul Richardson, 2010-13

Most Receiving Yards, Career— 3,347, Nelson Spruce, 2012-15 (294 receptions)
Old Record: 2,548, Michael Westbrook, 1991-94 (167 receptions)

Most Consecutive Games Catching Two Or More Passes—38, Nelson Spruce, Nov. 23, 2012 to Nov. 28, 2015
Old Record: 22, Rae Carruth, Sept. 9, 1995 to Nov. 29, 1996.

*Most Consecutive Games Catching Four Or More Passes—15, Nelson Spruce, Nov. 2, 2013-Nov. 8, 2014.

Most Consecutive Games Catching Five Or More Passes—14, Nelson Spruce, Nov. 29, 2014 to Nov. 28, 2015
Old Record: 11, Nelson Spruce, Nov. 30, 2013-Nov. 8, 2014.

*Most Consecutive Games Catching Six Or More Passes—11, Nelson Spruce, Nov. 30, 2013-Nov. 8, 2014.

*Most Consecutive Games Catching Seven Or More Passes—5, Nelson Spruce, Aug. 29-Sept. 27, 2014.

Most Games With 10 or More Receptions, Career—8, Nelson Spruce, 2012-15.
Old Record: 215, Scotty McKnight, 2007-10

*Most Touchdown Receptions, Half—2, Nelson Spruce vs. California at Berkeley, Sept. 27, 2014 (second). TIED RECORD

*Most Touchdown Receptions, Game—3, Nelson Spruce vs. California at Berkeley, Sept. 27, 2014. TIED RECORD

*Most Touchdown Receptions, Season—12, Nelson Spruce, 2014.

Most Touchdown Receptions, Career— 23, Nelson Spruce, 2012-15
Old Record: 22, Scotty McKnight, 2007-10

*Most Consecutive Games Catching A Touchdown Pass— 7, Nelson Spruce, Nov. 23, 2013 to Sept. 27, 2014

*Most Consecutive Games, Two Touchdown Receptions— 3, Nelson Spruce, Aug. 29-Sept. 13, 2014

*Most Touchdowns By Class/Junior, Game—3, Nelson Spruce vs. California at Berkeley, Sept. 27, 2014.

*Most Touchdowns By Class/Junior, Season—12, Nelson Spruce, 2014.

*Most Touchdowns, Kickoff Returns, Game—1, Nelson Spruce vs. California in Boulder, Nov. 16, 2013 (on-side). TIED RECORD

*Most On-Side Kick Return Touchdowns, Game—1, Nelson Spruce vs. California in Boulder, Nov. 16, 2013 (46 yards).

Most First Downs Earned/Receiving, Season— 59, Nelson Spruce, 2015.
Old Record: 56, Nelson Spruce, 2014.

4 Comments

  1. Post By Baron VonIronCock

    Unique 200 $ entry fee – league advice request:
    warning it is not for the faint of heart

    Hey guys,
    this is a league unlike any I have joined in the past.
    Don’t worry I am not asking you to fill out my team for me, but I have a strategy question, for you to fully grasp it, unfortunately I have to explain the moving parts and values.

    its a STANDARD scoring – total points league, where it’s a lot like fanduel, all teams can choose from all players in the league.

    NOTE worthy – QBs score 6 pt passing TDs – the legacy data indicates that last years winning team bolstered Cam – Brady and Eli

    -Salary cap 60m (for 22 players)
    -bench of 12 does not go against the starting line up cap
    -only 16 add drops through the season ( no $ associated )
    -starting line up consists of
    -3 starting qbs (salary range IE – cousins 3.8m to Rodgers 5.5 M )
    -5 rb – (salary range – Lev bell 4.7M – mccluster 1.2 M)
    -5 wr – ( salary range Brown 3.8M – K white 1,7M – dorsette 1.4 M)
    -2 TE (Range gronk 2.9 M – Fleener 1.5 )
    – 2 FLEX – rb-wr-te
    -2 D (Range SEA 2.5 – Bal 1,8M)
    -3 PK – FFS!!! ( Range who cares – Kickers aren’t people …wait… I mean all NFL Players matter )

    OK so here are the areas where I have questions.

    In a roster like this the goal is to score as many points as you can.
    But you cannot just start all top players.

    My 1st question is :
    what position would you say is wisest to cheap out on ? should I even be doing that ?

    My thinking is goal line backs –

    IE) If I pencil in Kadeem carey and javorious allen – along with cheaper qbs (Eli – cousins and Dalton )
    With those guys in as 2 filler picks, I can get Hopkins – AJ – Brown – keenan – AND ODB in at WR
    along with metiocre rbs for the other 3 spots – like ameer – forte and the like

    or perhaps you think a WR who catches 4 balls a game for 60 yards is a smarter play to get me enough points at filler to enable me to rock studs elsewhere?

    Question 2 –
    What type of player do you think it is wisest to focus my energy and dollar values on ?
    it is STD scoring so WR’s and pass catching backs take a hit.

    keeping into consideration that I only have 16 waiver claims to make through the season.
    should I focus on players who are less injury prone ?

    Question 3 –
    I am struggling with this one the most – The bench
    only 12 bench guys that I can swap in as long as the starting roster stays under 60M
    What kind of bench tactics would you suggest ? keeping reserve guys and handcuffs – or just getting comfortable with a nice roster composition and making sure the pieces on the pine can be swapped in for byes ?

    Last one
    How does one playing in a league like this tear away from the competition ?
    like I know to WIN at draftkings – they usually have one or two bargain basement values go off like Jonas Gray for 3 tds and 260 yards. In a league like this it accumulates all season.
    What roster make up strategy would you suggest to ZIG while THEY ZAG ?
    Is there a big profile player or two that you think lotsa ppl will be on this season that may regress, that may make the difference between losing or being SICK?

    Holy – I am sorry this is so long !
    I totally get it if you don’t have time to answer this

    PS – I will be renewing my Pro membership once draft season kicks in and the cheatsheet is released.

  2. Post By Baron VonIronCock

    OMG – that’s so long winded –
    my advice is to read it on the throne the day after you visited and all you can eat enchilada buffet.

  3. that’s a zinger for sure.
    game theory would indicate in this non-PPR setup that savings would come at the TE position, there are about 15 TEs in 2016 that we can make legitimate cases as being possible Top 5 guys.

    with the wideouts, go with a studs approach at the top and backfill with at least one free guy like IE Cecil Shorts, etc. (If you add up Shorts + Nate’s points from last season when they flip-flopped having good games, you’d have a fantasy WR2 and Nate is gone now. I’d be thinking about this type of player and who you’ll target).

    The goal-line backs idea is fine, but I’d only go with one. When coupled with the middling QBs and the stud WR group + the one free Cecil Shorts-ish guy you should not have to go so cheap on two RBs.

    -ad

  4. Post By Baron VonIronCock

    thanks Bro
    Much love

    PS last weeks show on SXM was AMAZING !

    Trashman sounded like he was half asleep, my fav part when callers would ask how he was, he always casually say as slowly as possible “oooooh Can’t complain” as he took a haul off of the pipe or something ..

    🙂

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