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Which Rookies Will Provide Instant Fantasy Production?

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Diego Solares

Twitter: @diego_solares73

One of the more intriguing aspects of the start to a new fantasy football season is the myriad of young, talented rookies that are brought into the league each year. Regardless of what format you play, these first-year players will have an impact on your league and could find themselves in key roles on your roster. The problem, however, is many fantasy gamers don’t know what to do with these players because they have yet to play a down in the NFL. Many of these rookies will not thrive if they don’t land in an ideal situation, regardless of talent, which seems to be the case for at least one player every single season. This article will preview what role a handful of rookies should be in at the beginning of the season and what fantasy value they can provide for your team.

An Early Impact

N’Keal Harry, WR, New England Patriots

The defending Super Bowl champions improved their receiving corps when they selected the best receiver in this draft class in N’Keal Harry. The 21-year-old former Arizona State Sun Devil is the first wide receiver that New England has selected in the first-round since Bill Belichick became their head coach in 2000, which in itself speaks on how the organization feels about him. Harry has a knack for catching the football and can reach up to make a contested catch consistently if he needs to. With Rob Gronkowski retiring, the Patriots lack that type of “contested catch” player that Tom Brady has had success with. Harry should slide right into the number two spot on the wide receiver depth chart, and with one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time throwing to him, it’s a no-brainer that his impact will be felt from the very beginning.

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Josh Jacobs, RB, Oakland Raiders

With Marshawn Lynch retiring, Jon Gruden and the Raiders elected to use one of their three first-round picks on his replacement. Widely considered the number one running back in this class, Josh Jacobs provides a three-down skill set that the Raiders desperately need. The former Alabama running back does not have a lot of mileage on his body, as Nick Saban likes to use multiple backs throughout the season, which means durability is not a concern. His strength, elusiveness, and ability to catch the football give him an opportunity to immediately step in as the full work-horse for the Raiders. In an offense that improved their offensive line and added skill position players at key positions, Jacobs could have the biggest impact out of any rookie this season. He would be my pick at 1.01 in dynasty rookie drafts if I had to select one today.

A.J. Brown, WR, Tennessee Titans

A.J. Brown was the number one receiver on my board entering the draft and the fact that he fell right into the Titans’ lap in the second round is a major win for a team that desperately needs some sort of playmaker. An advanced route-runner for his age, Brown is much more of an offensive threat than people give him credit for. He took over 50% of his snaps from the slot in college, but he is versatile enough to slide over and play on the outside. Pairing Corey Davis with a player like Brown is only going to benefit an offense that does not generate much excitement through the air. The biggest concern here has to be the health of Marcus Mariota, as the former Oregon quarterback has struggled to stay healthy since entering the league. On top of that, Tennessee has finished in the bottom-five in terms of pass attempts for three straight seasons. While Brown is likely to make more of an impact than most rookies, his situation has to be monitored closely.

Noah Fant, TE, Denver Broncos

There is a real possibility that Noah Fant will have the most productive rookie season of this entire draft class. The 6-foot-4, 249-pound former Iowa tight end solidified himself as an elite draft prospect with his electric performance at the combine. He’s an incredible athlete for a player of his size and stature, making Fant an incredibly attractive offensive weapon for any team. In terms of pass catchers for the Denver Broncos, Fant might be the best option entering Week One. With Emmanuel Sanders still recovering from an Achilles injury, Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton headline a rather weak group of pass catchers. Outside of the fact that he might be the best available option, Denver quarterback Joe Flacco has targeted his tight ends on 23-percent of his passing attempts over the last three years. The arrow has to be pointing upward for Fant, and at a position that is not known for much fantasy production, he could be a draft day steal.

Timeshare Running Backs

Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

For a team that has employed a running back by committee each of the last two seasons, the fact that general manager Howie Roseman spent a second-round pick on a running back has to be significant. Miles Sanders, who does not have a ton of mileage on his body either, is one of the more athletic and physical running backs in this draft class. Philadelphia did acquire Jordan Howard from the Chicago Bears this off-season, but the draft capital they spent on Sanders signals that they are not as confident in Howard taking over control of their backfield. Even then, Sanders is a much better pass catcher than Howard is and that alone might give him the majority of the passing downs work. Howard’s arrival allows Philadelphia the opportunity to ease Sanders into their offense, and even if he does not see much action this year, Howard’s contract expires after this upcoming season. Sanders is almost certainly a player I would be targeting in Dynasty leagues.

David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears

The departure of Jordan Howard leaves a vacancy on the Chicago Bears running back depth chart. While Tarik Cohen transformed himself into one of the more unique and unstoppable players in the league last season, his size and skill set suggests that he is not suited for a workhorse role. With Mike Davis as the only real running back on the depth chart, moving up in the draft to select David Montgomery seems like a genius move for general manager Ryan Pace. Montgomery forced the third most missed tackles in all of college football last season and is very effective in the open field. His elusiveness alone fits right into Matt Nagy’s system, while his 216-pound frame suggests he can handle an NFL workload. For a team that has consistently hit on their mid-round picks the last few seasons, the Bears may have gotten a draft steal in Montgomery. If the Bears offense continues on their current trajectory and takes that next step, Montgomery could be one of the higher impact rookies in 2019.

Guys I Still Like

D.K Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Despite not being the number one receiver on my draft board, D.K. Metcalf falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the late second round is one of my favorite fits for a first-year player. His ridiculous athleticism was on full display at the NFL combine, but Metcalf’s inability to move laterally and questions surrounding how good of a pass catcher he actually is caused him to drop out of the first round. With Doug Baldwin retiring, the Seahawks lack another offensive weapon on the outside next to Tyler Lockett. Metcalf can be just that, as even though he is still a raw product, his physicality and presence alone will almost certainly benefit the Seahawks. The former Ole Miss wide receiver will also be playing with one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Russell Wilson, which will play to his advantage. He still needs to develop, but Metcalf should be a high selection in rookie drafts and is worth a shot in re-draft formats.

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Parris Campbell, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Ohio State speedster Parris Campbell was an excellent selection for the Indianapolis Colts. He can be penciled in as the starting slot receiver come Week One. Just like Harry and Metcalf, Campbell gets to play with another elite NFL quarterback in Andrew Luck. The only red flag has to be the health concerns that come with Luck, as Campbell’s production will drop off a cliff if his quarterback misses any time. For the time being, however, this is simply one of the best fits in the class.

Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers

For a team that missed out on the Odell Beckham Jr. and Antonio Brown sweepstakes, the 49ers needed to hit on a solid pass catcher in this draft class. They selected South Carolina standout Deebo Samuel, who despite not having elite college production, is still an interesting player. George Kittle will be the team’s number one option but, after that, it’s a wide open race for targets. Marquise Goodwin struggled to stay healthy last season, and despite Dante Pettis’ successful rookie season, there is still more to be seen with his production. Samuel could win a starting spot out of training camp in an above-average offense, giving him some plenty of fantasy upside.

T.J. Hockenson, TE, Detroit Lions

There isn’t much to not like about T.J. Hockenson. His athletic and physical build paired with his ability to consistently catch the football make him the most complete tight end prospect since Rob Gronkowski came out of Arizona State. The Detroit Lions certainly saw Gronk-like characteristics in Hockenson when they selected him with the eighth overall pick in the draft. He’s going to play almost every down for the Lions because of how good he is as a blocker. Outside of Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr., quarterback Matthew Stafford will have no choice but to throw the ball Hockenson’s way. While he does not have the offensive upside that Noah Fant does, he is still worthy of a flyer pick.

Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals

The first and only quarterback that is in prime position to provide immediate fantasy value in this class is Kyler Murray. While I am not as high on Murray as most, the fact of the matter is that he will be the Cardinals’ starting quarterback come Week One and he’s an incredible playmaker. Murray may not be super impressive with his arm, but his ability to make something out of nothing paired with his explosiveness alone provides plenty of fantasy upside.

Justice Hill, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Some people may be surprised by this, but Justice Hill to the Baltimore Ravens was one of the best picks in this entire draft. In an offense that simply wants to outrun their opponents, Hill’s 4.40 forty-yard dash time should fit in perfectly with quarterback Lamar Jackson. Recently signed Mark Ingram should get a majority of the workload and Gus Edwards is still on the team, but Hill’s speed alone should get him snaps. Baltimore does not usually stick to one running back for an entire season, mostly due to injuries, but John Harbaugh might just realize soon enough that Hill is the best fit for his offense. Even if he does not see much playing time in 2019, both Kenneth Dixon and Edwards are free agents after this season. Don’t draft him in redraft leagues, you probably won’t have to, but he’s an intriguing dynasty option.

A Shot in the Dark

Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are usually extremely good at drafting wide receivers and developing them. GM Kevin Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin obviously saw something in Diontae Johnson, a small school product that some saw as a reach in the third round. His fantasy upside comes from the fact that he plays with one of the league’s best quarterbacks and could see a lot of playing time due to the lack of pass catchers that Pittsburgh has on their roster.

Mecole Hardman, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Some were surprised that the Kansas City Chiefs elected to take a wide receiver with their first pick of the draft, but with Tyreek Hill running into off-field trouble, they really had no choice. Mecole Hardman is not nearly the player Hill is, but he’s incredibly fast and can create separation as a deep threat. Patrick Mahomes can sling it as well as any quarterback in the league and his involvement in one of the league’s best offenses has to be intriguing.

https://twitter.com/a_johnsonFF/status/1122123328561582085?s=20

Andy Isabella, WR, Arizona Cardinals

One of the most underappreciated players coming out of college, Andy Isabella could end up being one of the best pass catchers from this draft class. He ran a 4.31 forty-yard dash at the NFL combine and put up massive numbers in college. Despite playing mostly out of the slot at UMass, head coach Kliff Kingsbury believes that he can have success on the outside as well. On a team with virtually no playmakers, Isabella could get plenty of targets from Kyler Murray.

Marquise Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens

The cousin of Antonio Brown was arguably the number one receiver in this draft class. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, the former Oklahoma Sooner went to the least friendly destination for pass catchers. Baltimore’s transcendent run first offense vaulted them into the playoffs last season. Lamar Jackson is not a bad quarterback by any means, but he is not a polished passer either. Brown fits into this offense perfectly because of his speed and he will be involved, but in terms of actually catching the football, he may not get many chances to do so.

Irv Smith Jr., TE, Minnesota Vikings

After T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant, Alabama’s Irv Smith Jr. was the consensus number three tight end in this class. A physical freak, Smith had an extremely productive season with Tua Tagovailoa last year and showcased his skills as a pass catcher. Kyle Rudolph did not have a strong 2018 season and his contract will be up at the year’s end. Smith might not see much production as a rookie, and should be avoided in redraft formats, but he will be a dynasty steal once Rudolph walks in free agency.

Dwayne Haskins, QB, Washington Redskins

The number one quarterback on my draft board, Dwayne Haskins would be on my “Guys I Still Like” list if he was not fighting for his starting job going into the season. This quarterback situation in Washington is very similar to what occurred in Cleveland last year, as Case Keenum will more than likely be the starter for the first few weeks and then Haskins will take over. The Redskins skill position group is not very good, but Haskins could have some fantasy upside once he becomes the starting quarterback.

Jace Sternberger, TE, Green Bay Packers

This one is sweet and simple: Jimmy Graham is getting old and Aaron Rodgers is an elite quarterback. He’s a 6-foot-4 freak of nature athletically and with the Packers having an out clause in Graham’s contract after 2019, Sternberger could find himself as the number one tight end in an offense with one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Sign me up.

Avoid Completely

Daniel Jones, QB, New York Giants

The biggest reach in the entire 2019 draft should be completely avoided. Daniel Jones is not an NFL caliber quarterback and Eli Manning will continue to start under center for the New York Giants. He might be worth a shot at the end of rookie drafts, but do not draft him in redraft formats.

Diego Solares

Twitter: @diego_solares73
Diego is a freshman in college and is a right-handed pitcher at the collegiate level. He is majoring in education and hopes to be a high school teacher, as well as a baseball coach. Diego has four years of experience in writing and editing covering the San Diego Padres for EastVillageTimes.com and is eager to write about his fantasy football knowledge. He has been playing fantasy football for about six years now and it is his favorite fantasy sport to play.

Comments (1)

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    July 19, 2019

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