Fantasy football preseason rookie report (Updated)
Just over two weeks after our first look at the most prominent rookies entering the 2016 NFL season, plenty has already changed.
Having had a chance to see some rookies work with the first-team offense and see which situations they were used in, fantasy owners can begin to properly assess value. As always, some injuries to prominent veterans has helped open the door even further.
(Standard-scoring league ADPs courtesy FantasyPros, as of Aug. 29)
Quarterback
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys, ADP: 273
Prescott has been the star of the preseason. His 78 percent completion rate leads all passers with at least 50 attempts. He has passed for nearly 50 more yards than any other quarterback. He leads with five passing touchdowns, and he hasn't thrown a single interception. He has also rushed for totals of 53 yards and two touchdowns on just seven attempts.
His success led to the Cowboys ceasing their search for a veteran backup to QB Tony Romo. Now, with Romo out until after the Cowboys' Week 7 bye in all likelihood, Prescott becomes the first rookie quarterback selected in the fourth round or lower to start a Week 1 game since Kyle Orton.
He has weapons in WR Dez Bryant, TE Jason Witten, and RB Ezekiel Elliott, making him well worth a late-round selection for his extended trial.
Paxton Lynch, Denver Broncos, ADP: 341
Lynch narrowly lost on the starting quarterback job for the defending Super Bowl champions when sophomore QB Trevor Siemian was officially named the Week 1 starter Monday. Siemian was the most impressive starter in Broncos camp, which says a lot about how veteran Mark Sanchez performed.
Siemian completed 27 of 43 pass attempts for a 62.8 percent success rate. He threw just a single touchdown to two interceptions. His hold on the starting job can be considered loose.
Lynch did move ahead of Sanchez in camp, completing 27 of his 46 pass attempts with two TDs and one pick. He will start games this season, and likely sooner than later.
Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams, ADP: 213
Goff has completed 16 of 33 pass attempts this summer, with a lone touchdown matching his single interception. He also lost a fumble. While no official decision has been made of yet, incumbent QB Case Keenum is looking more and more like the Week 1 starter.
With few capable pass-catching options to work with in Los Angeles (contrary to what management thinks of WR Tavon Austin) fantasy owners won't miss much by ignoring this QB battle. Goff still holds dynasty value, but neither player will be relevant outside of an occasional streaming week in 2016.
Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles, ADP: 334
Returning QB Sam Bradford has the highest completion percentage (80.0) of all preseason passers with at least 40 attempts. He has two touchdowns and one interception, while completing three passes of 20-plus yards.
Wentz has attempted 24 passes but completed just 12. He has not thrown a touchdown pass. He's a dynasty pick, but nothing more, as the Eagles have no reason to rush his development.
Running back
Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys, ADP: 8
The injury to Romo will lead to further emphasis on the Cowboys' rushing attack, bolstering the already sky-high stock of Elliott. He made his professional debut in Week 3 of the preseason, rushing for 48 yards on just seven attempts. Should he stay on the field in 2016, he seems like a lock to return value on his late first-round ADP.
Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans, ADP: 104
Henry has impressed in preseason, totaling 154 yards and two touchdowns on 27 attempts. He has caught just one pass, turning in an eight-yard gain. The only downside to Henry's preseason has been the equally impressive play of veteran RB DeMarco Murray. Murray has gained 153 yards on just 19 attempts. Henry is a top-tier handcuff, but he has little standalone value.
DeAndre Washington, Oakland Raiders, ADP: 167
Believed to be used primarily in a pass-catching role this season, Washington has performed well as a rusher. He has totaled 106 yards on just 21 attempts, while adding 29 yards on five receptions. His biggest play of the preseason came in Week 1, when he caught a 32-yard pass and also had a 25-yard gain on the ground. He has standalone value alongside veteran Latavius Murray.
Devontae Booker, Denver Broncos, ADP: 155
With veteran RB Ronnie Hillman reportedly in danger of being released, Booker should open the season as the backup to C.J. Anderson. Booker has gained 60 yards on the ground and 32 through the air on 24 touches. Anderson has yet to top 180 carries in a single NFL season, opening the door for Booker as a complimentary piece in the Broncos' backfield.
Tyler Ervin, Houston Texans, ADP: 318
Solely a potential handcuff to bellcow Lamar Miller, Ervin turned in an 11-yard run and a 20-yard reception in the third preseason game. Miller figures to feature as a three-down back, handling both goal-line and pass-catching duties.
C.J. Prosise, Seattle Seahawks, ADP: 171
Prosise's path to playing time has been partially blocked by the re-emergence of Seahawks RB Christine Michael. Prosise made his debut in the Week 3 victory over the Cowboys, gaining 23 yards on four carries. But he wasn't involved in the passing game, a role he was thought to be a favorite for.
Still, Michael seems like the heir to the starting job if Thomas Rawls befalls another injury, with Prosise factoring in as a compliment to either.
Keith Marshall, Washington Redskins, ADP: 343
The Redskins' rushing attack has been as lackluster as expected. Perceived Matt Jones has gained 32 yards on just nine attempts, while sitting out the third preseason game. Jones received just one rushing attempt in the third game. He has caught three passes this preseason but has been a non-factor.
Marshall will likely be available on waivers if he comes to relevance at any point this season.
Josh Ferguson, Indianapolis Colts, ADP: 239
Ferguson has been supplanted by veteran RB Robert Turbin as the likely backup to Frank Gore. Ferguson has gained just 13 yards on 18 attempts in the preseason, though he has added 41 yards on five receptions. With the aging Gore and career backup in Turbin ahead of him on the depth chart, Ferguson still has a shot at meaningful playing time in a strong offense.
Kenneth Dixon, Baltimore Ravens, ADP: 169
Dixon is a part of one of the NFL's most crowded and least appealing backfields in fantasy, and he's also sidelined four weeks due to a torn MCL that will not require surgery. He should return around Week 4 or 5, but he'll then debut in a less than desirable situation. Ignore him until he surfaces as a waiver-wire option.
Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears, ADP: 201
An early handcuff option when it was believed Bears RB Jeremy Langford could lose his job at any moment, hype on Howard has subsided during Langford's impressive preseason. Langford has been used in all situations with the first-team offense, gaining 99 yards on 18 carries. Howard has just 66 yards on 20 carries while working with the second- and third-team offenses.
Wide receiver
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants, ADP: 99
Much talked about during training camp practices, Shepard has taken a backseat in preseason while the Giants try to get WR Victor Cruz as many reps as possible. The extra work for Cruz is an effort to see what the veteran has left to offer in his lengthy road back from injury. Shepard is still expected to line up across from Odell Beckham Jr., making him a WR4 target.
Tajae Sharpe, Tennessee Titans, ADP: 191
The Titans offense has looked surprisingly capable in the preseason and Sharpe has been a big reason why. He has caught nine passes for a total of 163 yards, including one 60-yard pass in the third game. Sharpe has a firm grip on a starting role for a team likely to pass the ball often in second halves this season. He is among the top upside plays at his current ADP.
Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints, ADP: 147
Thomas has caught six passes in preseason, with gains of 28 and 23 yards included. He has mixed in with the first-team offense and has seen looks in the red zone. With his big weeks likely to come when least expected, he is a better option in MFL10 formats than in typical season-long leagues.
Will Fuller, Houston Texans, ADP: 197
Fuller has come on strong in the past two preseason games, totaling seven receptions for 140 yards and scoring a touchdown in each game. He is slated to start opposite WR DeAndre Hopkins, with the potential to act as an elite deep threat. While the Texans' offense will focus on the rushing attack, Fuller doesn't require as many touches as most in order to be a fantasy option.
He's an excellent target near the final rounds of a draft.
Corey Coleman, Cleveland Browns, ADP: 115
Browns QB Robert Griffin III has shown early chemistry with WRs Terrelle Pryor and Josh Gordon, with Pryor being particularly impressive thus far. Luckily for Coleman, Gordon won't return until Week 5, leaving Coleman in a starting spot for the first four weeks. He failed to catch either of his two targets in his Week 3 debut, but he still warrants WR4 consideration.
Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals, ADP: 189
Boyd will open the season behind WR Brandon LaFell, with his playing time likely to come only in three-WR sets. LaFell's inconsistent and mediocre history leaves open the opportunity for Boyd to earn a larger role as the season goes on, but fantasy owners will likely wind up leaving him on the bench for several weeks before the opportunity arises.
Laquon Treadwell, Minnesota Vikings, ADP: 139
The main knock on Treadwell continues to be the team by which he was drafted. He's listed third on the unofficial depth chart, behind Stefon Diggs and Charles Johnson. QB Teddy Bridgewater has struggled to produce a fantasy relevant receiver thus far in his career, let alone three. Treadwell's long-term upside is much more appealing than his outlook for 2016.
Leonte Carroo, Miami Dolphins, ADP: 264
Carroo is buried on the Dolphins' depth chart, and he begins the year without any real fantasy prospects. He's likely to become a waiver option should either Jarvis Landry or DeVante Parker suffer an injury.
Josh Doctson, Washington Redskins, ADP: 181
As Doctson continues his come back from an Achilles' injury, Redskins head coach Jay Gruden expects him to be ready for Week 1. Still, he hasn't had a chance to form any sort of chemistry with QB Kirk Cousins, and he is buried in a deep pass-catching corps. His appeal lies in dynasty leagues only.
Tight end
Hunter Henry, San Diego Chargers, ADP: 317
While handcuffs for tight ends are rarely considered and aren't necessary, Henry has a visible route to playing time behind 36-year-old Antonio Gates. Gates has missed time in four of his past six seasons. Henry should be drafted only in dynasty leagues, but he has a good chance of surfacing as a waiver option in redraft leagues.
Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons, ADP: 263
Hooper broke out in the third preseason game, hauling in five receptions for 50 yards, including one for 23 yards. He is a better pass catcher than veteran Jacob Tamme, but he will start the season behind the superior blocker.