Fantasy: Dynasty Rookie Rankings
Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent the last 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast."
1. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
This is no-brainer. Something horrible would've had to happen in the draft (like getting drafted by Cleveland) for Elliott not to be on the top of this board, even though I'm huge believer in building with wide receivers instead of running backs in dynasty. Everything aligned perfectly for next year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. Think Edgerrin James.
2. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Vikings
Many feel Treadwell’s stock has fallen because of his 40-yard dash and landing in Minnesota. I very much think the opposite, as he fits the makeup of his new team perfectly. To me, it would be a major shock if he didn’t lead Minnesota in receptions, receiving yardage, and receiving touchdowns as a rookie. In fact, I bet he leads all rookies in those categories. Treadwell is a beast and exactly what Teddy Bridgewater needs.
3. Corey Coleman, WR, Browns
There is a strong argument to be made that Coleman is the best wide receiver in this draft class. Obviously the Browns thought so. He drops too many passes and his route tree needs to be greatly expanded, but there's no denying Coleman’s explosiveness and ability to change a game. But Cleveland is going to be terrible this season, and probably for the next few years. A huge dynasty rookie draft rule is to value talent over situation. Coleman is still highly attractive for that reason.
4. Josh Doctson, WR, Redskins
DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon have expiring contracts after this season, and while Jamison Crowder did some good things out of the slot in his rookie year, there's obvious opportunity for Doctson in the very near future. Might Washington even consider trading Jackson or Garcon? There's an awful lot to like about Doctson’s game that translates well to fantasy as well.
5. Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants
I actually like Shephard for “Real Life” and for the Giants more than I do for dynasty, but he's a fantastic football player that walks into a role that's wide open. Heck, even if Victor Cruz actually returns to what he once was, Ben McAdoo’s offense ran more three-wide-receiver sets than any offense in the NFL last year. Given he's probably the best route runner in this class, the Giants’ offense will get the ball in Shephard’s hands very quickly.
6. Kenneth Dixon, RB, Ravens
If by chance Elliott is injured, Dixon would be my choice to lead all rookies in rushing. He never should have lasted as long as he did in the draft and with the exception of Justin Forsett, who is up in age, Dixon doesn’t have a lot in front of him in Baltimore. Ravens fans and his dynasty owners are going to love Dixon, who also brings a lot to the table as a pass catcher as well.
7. Michael Thomas, WR, Saints
Before the draft, opinions were all over the place on Thomas, but he clearly has ability and he landed in a great spot. With Marques Colston gone, Thomas could take over some of that responsibility. While he won’t challenge Brandin Cooks, Thomas could nudge Willie Snead down the pecking order before long.
8. Derrick Henry, RB, Titans
I'm not a Henry fan, but it doesn’t seem far-fetched to envision Henry passing DeMarco Murray in a still-improving offense and become the Titans’ lead running back - especially after the way Murray looked last year following his massive 2014 workload. Unlike Shepherd, I like this one much more for fantasy than real life. This guy is going to score a lot of touchdowns. With his landing spot, many will make Eddie George comparisons, but that's much too rich for me.
9. Tyler Boyd, WR, Bengals
Cincinnati missed out on a wide receiver in the first round, but got one of the more NFL-ready prospects in Round 2. Boyd should immediately come into the Bengals’ offense and see consistent playing time. With AJ Green, Tyler Eifert, and a strong Cincinnati running game, Boyd should also see a lot of single coverage in year one. A very good all-around player, Boyd’s ceiling isn’t particularly high.
10. Paul Perkins, RB, Giants
Highly elusive and dynamic, Perkins is an excellent combination of runner and receiver. He's unlikely to unseat Shane Vereen as New York’s best receiving option, but beating out Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams shouldn’t take Perkins long to accomplish. He's going to greatly bolster the Giants’ running back position.
11. Leonte Carroo, WR, Dolphins
Carroo is a very good football player that landed in a questionable new home. While I expect Adam Gase to do wonders for Ryan Tannehill’s career, Miami already has a physical chain-moving wideout in place in Jarvis Landry, not to mention DeVante Parker and Kenny Stills on the outside. It does hold a lot of water, though, that the Dolphins liked Carroo enough to trade up to acquire him.
12. Devonte Booker, RB, Broncos
How much does Denver truly like and value CJ Anderson? They way they've handled him during the season, and when he almost got away to the Dolphins, throws some doubt in there. While he enters the league a little overaged, Booker runs somewhat like Arian Foster, which obviously fits what Gary Kubiak is looking for.
13. Jordan Howard, RB, Bears
The combination of Ka’Deem Carey and Jeremy Langford is underwhelming at best. There was a major need for a running back in Chicago and while it took a while before the Bears filled it, Howard is a no-nonsense downhill runner that could immediately assume the goal-line work. And it shouldn’t be long before he's the lead guy for Chicago.
14. C.J. Prosise, RB, Seahawks
Prosise has some similarities to David Johnson from one year ago. Like Johnson, Prosise has work to do as a pure running back and he's a bigger back with excellent receiving skills who might immediately assume Seattle’s receiving back role. With Thomas Rawls, Christine Michael, Prosise, and fifth-rounder Alex Collins, who also deserves dynasty attention, Seattle’s backfield is very crowded and unsettled, but we know Pete Carroll loves creating position competition. Maybe Prosise emerges, but more likely he'll handle the receiving duties with Rawls still “The Man” in Seattle, assuming he's healthy.
15. Will Fuller, WR, Texans
The Texans made it a huge priority to get much faster on offense, and they accomplished that goal. Fuller is a pure deep threat that gets a very high percentage of his production on deep passes, but he also has small hands and drops a lot of passes. He looks much more like Ted Ginn than DeSean Jackson or even Mike Wallace to me.
16. Jonathan Williams, RB, Bills
The opportunity in Buffalo is far from ideal for Williams, but how much longer will LeSean McCoy be effective? And while Karlos Williams flashed during his rookie season, he's far from a sure thing. Jonathan Williams is simply a running back I like quite a bit and would have gone much higher in the draft had he not been coming off an injury. But he's buried ... for now.
17. Hunter Henry, TE, Chargers
My hunch is Philip Rivers is really going to like Henry. And maybe the young tight end learns a thing or two from the Hall of Famer sitting above him on San Diego’s depth chart. This is a pick for 2017 and well beyond.
18. Keith Marshall, RB, Redskins
Talent and situation. Both are there for Marshall in a big way. Obviously Marshall has a ton to work on, and only one running back was drafted after him, but Washington’s depth chart is rather barren right now. Marshall really isn’t that much of a different type of runner than Matt Jones, who also is anything but stable.
19. Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles
Wentz over Jared Goff and Paxton Lynch. The Eagles are a much more stable organization than Los Angeles. In short, I trust Wentz’s support staff more than Goff’s. As for Lynch, I trust his support staff more than either, but he's just so far away right now from being ready to lead an NFL offense. And if Wentz hits in this league, he will hit big.
20. Wendell Smallwood, RB, Eagles
He isn’t the biggest running back, but Smallwood runs hard and has a lot of juice to him. The depth chart in Philadelphia is exceptionally appealing, and Smallwood could get a huge bump if either Ryan Mathews or Darren Sproles go down.
Others to Consider
- Goff, QB, Rams
- Lynch , QB, Broncos
- Kenyan Drake, RB, Dolphins
- Alex Collins, RB, Seahawks
- Pharoh Cooper, WR, Rams
- Rashard Higgins, WR, Browns
- Braxton Miller, WR, Texans
- Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Patriots
- Charone Peak, WR, Jets
- Jerell Adams, TE, Giants
- Tyler Higbee, TE, Rams
- Austin Hooper, TE, Falcons