Fantasy: Which rookies will emerge as stars in 2018?

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2018 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.

With the draft over and rosters close to what we'll see at the start of training camp, we can finally start to assess the new fantasy landscape.

Dez Bryant still needs to find a home, and the massive wave of undrafted free agent signings will continue over the next few days, but starting lineups are settling into place.

Here's an early look at the top fantasy rookies, as well as some of the other first-year players to keep an eye on heading into 2018.

Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants

2018 star potential: ★★★★★
Projection: 265 carries, 1,192 rushing yards, 7 TDs
63 receptions, 437 receiving yards, 2 TDs

Don't let the negativity surrounding Dave Gettleman's decision to go running back early affect your perception of Saquon Barkley as a fantasy asset.

Barkley is as elite of a running back prospect as we've seen, with a 6-foot, 233-pound frame and a 4.4 time in the 40-yard dash. He brings a rare combination of power and game-breaking quicks, paired with excellent receiving skills.

Backs taken early in the first round, like Ezekiel Elliot and Leonard Fournette, have provided fantasy owners with league-winning performances in recent years, but Barkley isn't set up quite as well as they were during their rookie campaigns. The left side of the Giants' offensive line is much improved with free-agent left tackle Nate Solder and second-round run-game mauler Will Hernandez at left guard. However, the offensive line as a whole remains a problem for the G-Men.

Barkley has the talent to overcome the weakness, especially given his guaranteed workload, but those blocking concerns are enough to bump him into the second round of fantasy drafts as a borderline RB1.

Sony Michel, RB, Patriots

2018 star potential: ★★★★★
Projection: 188 carries, 904 rushing yards, 8 TDs
21 receptions, 144 receiving yards, 1 TD

When a team like the Patriots bucks convention and takes a running back in the first round, fantasy owners need to take notice. That's not to say New England has been flawless at drafting skill position players - they've had their share of early-round busts - but the addition of Michel is notable.

Dion Lewis, who led the team in rushing a year ago, left in free agency, and Michel has the skill set to immediately step into that lead back role for the Pats. He shows impressive instincts and vision with the ball in his hands. He's also one of the best pass-blockers in this year's running back class, which bodes well for his playing time in 2018.

There are some risks attached to Michel's fantasy outlook, including ball-security issues and Bill Belichick's propensity to shuffle through starting backs, making him more of a gamble than some near the top of the list. However, there's also immense upside in a prolific offense like New England's, and Michel could quickly become a fantasy star. Many have even projected him as this year's Alvin Kamara, who joined a high-powered offense with an unclear backfield situation and emerged as a surprising RB1 for his fantasy owners.

Derrius Guice, RB, Redskins

2018 star potential: ★★★★★
Projection: 233 carries, 918 rushing yards, 7 TDs
17 receptions, 119 receiving yards, 1 TD

Guice had the biggest draft day slide, with reports of character concerns taking him from a potential first-rounder all the way down into the late second round.

The good news is that the bruising LSU rusher landed in a perfect situation, where he'll face little competition for early-down work. Guice was never going to see heavy targets as a receiver, so the presence of an excellent pass-catching back like Chris Thompson isn't a concern.

With Alex Smith taking over the offense, which features an unproven group of receivers, it'll be important for the Redskins to establish their run game. Washington's offensive line was plagued by injuries in 2017, but if Trent Williams, Brandon Scherff, and Morgan Moses can stay healthy, this can be a solid run-blocking unit.

Even with a limited pass-game role, Guice should emerge as a fantasy RB2 in his debut season and has the upside for an even bigger rookie season if the Redskins' offense clicks with Smith under center.

Rashaad Penny, RB, Seahawks

2018 star potential: ★★★★★
Projection: 215 carries, 842 rushing yards, 6 TDs
26 receptions, 229 receiving yards, 1 TD

Seattle's running game has been a disaster the last two seasons, with Russell Wilson being the only member of the team to eclipse 500 rushing yards in either campaign. While some were surprised to see Penny as the second rusher off the board, the fact that the Seahawks invested a first-rounder in the position shouldn't shock anyone.

Penny has three-down skills and his arrival will return Chris Carson, Mike Davis, and C.J. Prosise to the complementary roles they're more suited for. Their presence, combined with the unreliable nature of Seattle's offensive line, will shave some of the Year 1 upside off Penny's fantasy stats, but he'll still be able to flirt with RB2 numbers.

Ronald Jones II, RB, Buccaneers

2018 star potential: ★★★★☆
Projection: 189 carries, 792 rushing yards, 5 TDs
23 receptions, 219 receiving yards, 0 TDs

Savvy fantasy owners know opportunity can often be more important than top-end talent when it comes to the running back position. Few rookie backs were drafted into a more prime spot than Jones, who joins a Tampa team desperate for a starting-caliber back.

Peyton Barber is a serviceable player and will continue to get carries in this backfield, but Jones is positioned to handle the bulk of the workload if his 5-foot-11, 205-pound frame can hold up to the physicality of the pros. The Bucs would be wise to keep Barber and Charles Sims in the mix to lighten Jones' volume, even though that's the last thing fantasy owners want to hear.

Jones' explosive running style will help him stand out in the preseason and could vault his stock throughout August. However, at the moment, he projects to be an RB3/Flex, with the upside to sneak into the RB2 ranks.

Royce Freeman, RB, Broncos

2018 star potential: ★★★★☆
Projection: 242 carries, 896 rushing yards, 5 TDs
22 receptions, 169 receiving yards, 1 TD

The Broncos were the other team that needed to come out of the draft with a potential starter, after releasing C.J. Anderson earlier in the month. They waited until the third round to address the position and found a player who's capable of being a lead back, yet lacks the elite attributes you'd like in a starter.

Freeman had plenty of success at Oregon, where he racked up 5,621 rushing yards and 60 touchdowns. Playing behind a revamped Broncos offensive line, he'll have a chance to be a volume producer as a rookie and is worth considering as an RB3/Flex.

D.J. Moore, WR, Panthers

2018 star potential: ★★★★☆
Projection: 61 receptions, 858 receiving yards, 4 TDs

Moore is a pro-ready prospect who the Panthers are hoping can step in and contribute in Week 1. Devin Funchess and Greg Olsen give Cam Newton big-bodied options, but Moore provides Carolina with a more dynamic weapon. The comparisons to Steve Smith are warranted. Moore has a great catch range and is able to make plays once the ball is in his hands.

Receivers don't always make an impact in their first year, which is why there aren't many on this list. However, of this year's crop, Moore has the best chance to be fantasy relevant as a WR4, with an easy path to WR3 numbers.

Watch List

Nick Chubb, RB, Browns - The Browns are a team on the rise, at least on paper, and Chubb projects to be their eventual starter, but he'll enter a tough battle with Carlos Hyde for early-down work and Duke Johnson will continue to siphon backfield targets. Even if Hyde wins the job out of camp, his injury history suggests Chubb will take over at some point in the year.

Kerryon Johnson, RB, Lions - Johnson may not be as talented as Chubb, but his competition for touches shouldn't be nearly as stiff. A three-way committee with 31-year-old LeGarrette Blount and passing-down specialist Theo Riddick could limit Johnson's fantasy value early in the season.

Calvin Ridley, WR, Falcons - Landing in Atlanta could be good for Ridley's long-term fantasy value, but his re-draft stock definitely takes a hit. The Falcons' offense plummeted back to earth after Matt Ryan's MVP campaign in 2016, struggling to produce consistent receiving performances outside of Julio Jones.

Michael Gallup, WR, Cowboys - With Dez no longer throwing up the "X" for the Cowboys, Dallas' receiving corps is without a star. Gallup is a third-rounder with the potential to carve out a major role in Year 1.

Mike Gesicki, TE, Dolphins - The Dolphins entered the draft with the cupboard almost bare at the tight end position, meaning the athletic freak Gesicki will have a chance to be featured in Miami.

Anthony Miller, WR, Bears - Miller's ceiling is capped playing next to a true No. 1 wideout like Allen Robinson, but Miller is among a handful of receivers who will have the opportunity to produce right away.

Hayden Hurst/Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens - The Ravens sent a clear message in this draft: Nick Boyle and Maxx Williams aren't starting options. Hurst is a better overall talent, but Andrews rivals him as a pass-catcher. This will be a fun camp battle to watch for fantasy owners who like digging deep for tight ends.

Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos - Sutton may end up being the best receiver in this class. For the time being, he's stuck behind Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, limiting his 2018 potential.

James Washington, WR, Steelers - With Martavis Bryant now in Oakland, Washington will have a chance to step into the lineup in three-wide sets. This will lead to some spiked weeks and could even turn into a breakout if a starter goes down with an injury.

Baker Mayfield, QB, Browns - Josh Rosen might be the most pro-ready quarterback in this class, but Mayfield finds himself surrounded by the most talent. If the team decides to give him a chance in the second half of the season, Mayfield could enter the streamer conversation.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens - Jackson could help breathe life back into the Ravens' passing attack if given the chance. It's unlikely he'll see starter snaps as a rookie, but his rushing ability would make him an extremely attractive fantasy option if he sees the field.