May 17, 2014
There will be many more 2014 Fantasy Football Rankings and features in the late spring and summer, including tons of 2014 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts, Player Rankings, Sleepers and Busts. I’ll also have an extensive 2014 NFL Fantasy Football Preseason Stock Report.
2014 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Re-Draft
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Bishop Sankey, RB, Titans
Bishop Sankey has the most present and future potential of all the rookie running backs. His main competition for now is Shonn Greene, who just underwent knee surgery and will miss all of the OTAs. Remember that Tennessee has a brand-new coaching staff, so it’s not like Ken Whisenhunt has any allegiance to Greene. Sankey should be able to win the job and keep it.
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Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers
I’d recommend staying away from all rookie receivers, but if I had to choose one of Mike Evans or Sammy Watkins, I’d opt for the former. Evans has a competent quarterback throwing the ball to him, as Josh McCown has enjoyed recent success with monstrous receivers.
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Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills
Sammy Watkins is a great talent. Unfortunately, he’ll be paired with E.J. Manuel in the near future, so his upside will be severely limited. Rookie receivers tend to be overrated anyway, so you’ll probably want to stay away from the Clemson product until 2015 when everyone forgets about him and focuses on Amari Cooper instead.
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Brandin Cooks, WR, Saints
Brandin Cooks is in the best situation of any rookie receiver. Not only is he paired with Drew Brees; he’ll be asked to contribute sooner rather than later, given the departures of Lance Moore and Darren Sproles.
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Odell Beckham, WR, Giants
Odell Beckham is in a better current situation than both Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans, considering that Eli Manning is his quarterback. However, Beckham’s talent level is a big notch below Watkins and Evans’, so I would not draft him before the two superior wideouts.
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Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers
Carlos Hyde may get some goal-line plunges this year, but he won’t see much action unless Frank Gore gets injured. His outlook is much better for the future, given that Marcus Lattimore admitted that he’s struggling to come back from his brutal knee injury.
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Terrance West, RB, Browns
The Browns like Terrance West a lot, and he may have a chance to start this year. Ben Tate has an extensive injury history, so he could easily go down again. If that happens, West may take over and never look back.
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Devonta Freeman, RB, Falcons
Devonta Freeman has a legitimate shot to become Atlanta’s feature back in the near future. He’ll be given an opportunity to hold the job once Steven Jackson moves on. Just keep in mind that there’s a reason he fell to the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
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Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Panthers
Kelvin Benjamin has major flaws, as one team even had a mid-round grade on him in the 2014 NFL Draft. However, he’s the projected No. 1 wideout in Carolina, so he’ll have his opportunities.
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Johnny Manziel, QB, Browns
Johnny Manziel is the top rookie quarterback in both standard and dynasty formats. He has no receiving corps, but Manziel will make up for it by picking up tons of rushing yardage on the ground. He projects as a decent QB2 this year.
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Eric Ebron, TE, Lions
Rookie tight ends are even worse than rookie receivers, so I wouldn’t want anything to do with Eric Ebron in his first season. Besides, it’s no given that he’ll start over Brandon Pettigrew or Joseph Fauria.
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Marqise Lee, WR, Jaguars
Injury concerns dropped Marqise Lee into the second round of the draft, but he has a good chance of emerging as Jacksonville’s eventual No. 1 receiver. It’s hard to like him this year though, considering that he’ll be paired with a rookie quarterback.
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Jace Amaro, TE, Jets
Jace Amaro has a chance to produce sooner rather than later, considering that his team is starved for play-makers. The problem is that there won’t be many scoring opportunities for him in such a crummy offense. His long-term prospects are much better.
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Dri Archer, RB, Steelers
Dri Archer has a chance to be Pittsburgh’s version of Darren Sproles. Bump him up if you’re in a PPR format.
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Jordan Matthews, WR, Eagles
Some have predicted Jordan Matthews to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, but I just don’t see it. As it stands now, Matthews is fifth in the pecking order for targets behind Jeremy Maclin, Riley Cooper, LeSean McCoy and Zach Ertz.
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Jerick McKinnon, RB, Vikings
Jerick McKinnon is Adrian Peterson’s new handcuff. Treat him as if he were Toby Gerhart.
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Andre Williams, RB, Giants
Andre Williams can’t catch or do anything except run hard, so maybe he can be the next Brandon Jacobs. He’ll have to fight for playing time this year with Rashad Jennings and in the future with David Wilson.
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Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB, Ravens
Considering Ray Rice’s legal issues and Bernard Pierce’s struggles last year, Lorenzo Taliaferro will have a (slim) shot to start at some point this season.
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Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
Blake Bortles is a big quarterback who can move around and pick up rushing yards. He won’t be completely useless in dynasty leagues, but there’s no reason to own him in a standard format. He’s not a bad QB3 in 2-QB leagues.
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Troy Niklas, TE, Cardinals
The last time Carson Palmer had a legitimate starting tight end, he turned Brandon Myers into a PPR machine. Troy Niklas is much more talented than Myers, but he may not win the job right away.
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Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Buccaneers
Austin Seferian-Jenkins will have to battle Brandon Myers and Tim Wright for snaps and targets. He’s not an ideal player to own in fantasy this year.
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Jeremy Hill, RB, Bengals
Jeremy Hill won’t see much action this year as the third running back on the depth chart. He’ll need either BenJarvus Green-Ellis or especially Giovani Bernard to go down.
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Tre Mason, RB, Rams
Tre Mason will be stuck behind Zac Stacy for the long term. He may not even beat out Benny Cunningham this year, so there’s no reason to draft him.
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Ka’Deem Carey, RB, Bears
Matt Forte’s new handcuff. Ka’Deem Carey has great pass-catching ability, so he’ll be more useful in PPR formats.
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James White, RB, Patriots
Bill Belichick doesn’t trust any of his running backs to carry the load, so it’s possible that James White could be the main guy in New England. Those chances are slim though.
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Cody Latimer, WR, Broncos
Cody Latimer is the fourth receiver on Denver’s depth chart, so barring injury, it’s difficult to see him doing much this year.
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Martavis Bryant, WR, Steelers
Martavis Bryant has a chance to start this year, but given that he’s raw, he has way more value in dynasty formats than in this year’s re-draft.
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Paul Richardson, WR, Seahawks
The Seahawks usually draft well, so Paul Richardson has a good chance of panning out. The problem is that Seattle is a run-based team that spreads out its targets.
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Davante Adams, WR, Packers
You have to love Davante Adams’ long-term potential with Aaron Rodgers, but as for now, he’s stuck behind Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Jarrett Boykin on the depth chart. He’ll also have to compete with Jared Abbrederis for playing time. Adams isn’t worth drafting in standard leagues this year.
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Allen Robinson, WR, Jaguars
Allen Robinson is just a third wideout on the Jaguars’ roster this year, so don’t expect much.
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Jarvis Landry, WR, Dolphins
Jarvis Landry is going to be Miami’s slot receiver. He’ll probably be one of those players who is better in real life than in fantasy.
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Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Vikings
Contrary to popular belief, Teddy Bridgewater is not a rusher. Thus, even if he becomes the starter, he’s not much of a fantasy option in the near future.
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Richard Rodgers, TE, Packers
There’s a chance – albeit a small one – that Richard Rodgers becomes Green Bay’s starting tight end this year. I still wouldn’t use a draft pick on him, but he’s someone worth monitoring.
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C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Texans
There’s no reason to draft a rookie tight end, so let someone else take C.J. Fiedorowicz.
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Storm Johnson, RB, Jaguars
It’s a long shot, but there’s a chance that Storm Johnson could end up starting for the Jaguars. Toby Gerhart is a marginal talent, so Johnson will have an opportunity.
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De’Anthony Thomas, RB, Chiefs
De’Anthony Thomas will be used on some trick plays, and he’ll catch some passes, but he’s not a viable fantasy option for this season or the long haul.
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Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
Derek Carr probably won’t start many games this year, so he’s only an option in dynasty formats.
- Charles Sims, RB, Buccaneers
- Alfred Blue, RB, Texans
- Lache Seastrunk, RB, Redskins
- Jalen Saunders, WR, Jets
- Shaq Evans, WR, Jets
- Marion Grice, RB, Chargers
- Tyler Gaffney, RB, Panthers
- Devin Street, WR, Cowboys
- Arthur Lynch, TE, Dolphins
- Robert Herron, WR, Buccaneers
- T.J. Jones, WR, Lions
- Tajh Boyd, QB, Jets
- Tom Savage, QB, Texans
- Donte Moncrief, WR, Colts
- Bruce Ellington, WR, 49ers
- Josh Huff, WR, Eagles
- Kevin Norwood, WR, Seahawks
- Zach Mettenberger, QB, Titans
- John Brown, WR, Cardinals
- Jared Abbrederis, WR, Packers
- Michael Campanaro, WR, Ravens
- Tevin Reese, WR, Chargers
- Chandler Jones, WR, Browns
- Willie Snead, WR, Browns
- Ryan Grant, WR, Redskins
- Jeff Janis, WR, Packers
- Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Patriots
- Crockett Gilmore, TE, Ravens
- Rob Blanchflower, TE, Steelers
- Kiero Small, RB, Seahawks
- Jeremy Gallon, WR, Patriots
- Matt Hazel, WR, Dolphins
- Mike Davis, WR, Raiders
- Philly Brown, WR, Panthers
- Walt Powell, WR, Cardinals
- Quincy Enunwa, WR, Jets
- James Wright, WR, Bengals
- Ted Bolser, TE, Redskins
- Logan Thomas, QB, Cardinals
- Aaron Murray, QB, Chiefs
- David Fales, QB, Bears
- A.J. McCarron, QB, Bengals
- Keith Wenning, QB, Ravens
- Garrett Gilbert, QB, Rams
More 2014 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 8/27 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/4 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/4 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings - 5/18 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/22 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 2-QB - 8/21 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/14 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/12 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 3-WR - 8/7 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 7/31 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 3-WR - 7/24 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/17 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 7/10 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - PPR - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 2-QB - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - TD - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 8/28 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Articles:
2014 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Training Camp - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football: It's All About Value - 9/1 (Kenny)
2014 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 8/31 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Busts - 8/31 (Walt)
2014 NFL Preseason Recap, Fantasy Football Notes - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Quarterback Targets - 8/30 (Walt)
FanDuel $1 Million Contest - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy - 8/17 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Running Backs - 3/28 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football: Overdrafted Players - 2/16 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football: First-Round Bust History - 2/14 (Walt)
Running Backs with Most Carries - 2/14 (Walt)
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 16
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
