By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Published May 8, 2019
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This season you will see a wide variety of dynasty rookie rankings out there because this isn’t a stacked field to choose from, but there are going to be some lottery tickets who will pay off. Hitting those will be tough, but still worth the endeavor. We looked at the 12 best rookies for dynasty last week, and now lets look at the next 12.
- Josh Jacobs, RB, Raiders
- David Montgomery, RB, Bears
- N’Keal Harry, WR, Patriots
- Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals
- Miles Sanders, RB, Eagles
- D.K. Metcalf, WR, Seahawks
- Parris Campbell, WR, Colts
- T.J. Hockenson, TE, Lions
- A.J. Brown, WR, Titans
- Marquise Brown, WR, Ravens
- Hakeem Butler, WR, Cardinals
- Deebo Samuel, WR, 49ers
Darrell Henderson, RB, Rams
Henderson got a nice boost in potential by landing with the Rams. Sean McVay’s ability to create mismatches should give Henderson great upside on each touch, and even if he can’t carve out a big workload, he’ll still be in a position to put up fantasy numbers on limited snaps. However, there is also potential for a 12-15 touches a game, as Todd Gurley’s arthritic knee will need to be monitored to keep him healthy for a full season and into the playoffs, and even then, there’s a chance he will falter at some point. Henderson has the ability to take over for Gurley as a runner and receiver, giving him home run potential as early as this season.
Mecole Hardman, WR, Chiefs
If Hardman had landed in any other situation, he wouldn’t be this high on my list, but with Tyreek Hill looking extremely iffy to play this year, or any other year for that matter, Hardman will get plenty of opportunity to learn on the job in the same spot Hill was able to put up huge numbers. I don’t see his upside anywhere near Hill’s, but Hardman’s speed and opportunity along with Patrick Mahomes throwing the ball, make him worth a fairly early pick this season.
Damien Harris, RB, Patriots
Harris could be behind Sony Michel for a long while, but we’ve already seen Michel have some injury trouble and we also know that Bill Belichick is going to use multiple backs no matter Michel’s lead-back status. Harris is better than James White and Rex Burkhead, and he should earn the lead job if Michel were to get hurt, while also seeing work in an offense that will lean on the run more moving forward.
Justice Hill, RB, Ravens
Hill joins Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards and Kenneth Dixon in the Baltimore backfield, and even in an extremely run-heavy scheme, four running backs can’t all have fantasy value on the same team. The good news is that Hill has the ability to earn playing time in this group and could be set up well for long-term value in what should be a creative rushing offense.
Dwayne Haskins, QB, Redskins
Haskins is a project, but has plenty of upside and room to grow if Washington’s offensive line can stay healthy. Washington will look to run the ball, which should help Haskins stay upright and learn the NFL, and that is what he’ll need early on if he is to develop into a fantasy starter for dynasty.
Noah Fant, TE, Broncos
Fant’s college teammate T.J. Hockenson is a better all-around tight end than Fant, but there is room for Fant to grow and we already know he has the building blocks to be a great offensive weapon. He’ll need to learn the subtleties of the position and could end up with a Jared Cook kind of career, but his upside should keep us ready to grab him if he falls into the second round of rookie dynasty drafts.
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Eagles
Arcega-Whiteside will need to find a role in the Eagles’ offense given his role is likely the one Alshon Jeffery inhabits at the moment. The good news is that Jeffery is 30, while DeSean Jackson and Nelson Agholor will be free agents next year. If Agholor were to be traded this season, Arcega-Whiteside would have a better chance for early fantasy value, but as it is, he’ll likely need to wait a bit, which is fine for dynasty.
Andy Isabella, WR, Cardinals
Isabella is a great fit for Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, but he will have trouble getting open if the Cardinals’ offensive line can’t give Kyler Murray time. Yes, Murray can scramble and throw on the run, which should give Isabella splash plays as early as this season, but for long-term value, I like Hakeem Butler to develop into a better all-around receiver. Thankfully, if this offense can take off, Isabella and Butler will both have fantasy value.
Irv Smith, TE, Vikings
The writing is on the wall for Kyle Rudolph, as the Vikings seemed willing to trade him for the right price and then drafted Smith in Round 2. Rudolph is all but gone as a free agent next season, which would give Smith the starting job in 2020, and Smith looks like the full package as a blocker and receiver and has the upside to be a better fantasy player than Rudolph.
Miles Boykin, WR, Ravens
Boykin is an amazing athlete who ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash despite measuring in at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. If you believe that Lamar Jackson will never throw the ball more than he did his rookie season, then don’t even mess with Boykin, but if you think Jackson was eased in last year and will kick it up a notch as a passer this season and continue to get better, then Boykin could be a steal in your rookie drafts. Paired with Hollywood Brown, there’s no-doubt this Ravens team wants to throw the ball and do it with big plays.
Diontae Johnson, WR, Steelers
Johnson has ability, but wasn’t as consistent in college as you’d like. If he hadn’t landed in Pittsburgh, he would likely go undrafted in many rookie drafts. The good news is that Pittsburgh chose him and they have been excellent in scouting wide receivers. Antonio Brown was drafted in the sixth round! Oh, and Brown is also gone, which gives wide receivers not named JuJu Smith-Schuster plenty of targets to work toward. James Washington and Donte Moncrief are probably in the lead behind Smith-Schuster, but they’ll still need to prove themselves, giving Johnson a pretty good starting spot in Pittsburgh.
Darwin Thompson, RB, Chiefs
Kansas City lost Kareem Hunt and is likely to lose Tyreek Hill this season. That leaves just Travis Kelce from an amazing offensive trifecta. Yes, Kansas City did find Damien Williams, who played well in Hunt’s absence, and signed Carlos Hyde, but Thompson’s speed and big-play ability will likely be needed, as Mecole Hardman is still raw. Thompson is a strong runner and receiver and should fit this offense well. He’ll likely have trouble finding touches early behind Williams, but I expect the offense to bog down at times with Williams and Kelce as the bulk of the talent, which ought to push more work Thompson’s way.
Check out the third round of 12 dynasty rookies.
Back to the top-12 dynasty rookies.
For more recommendations, check out WalterFootball.com’s Fantasy Football Rankings.
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