In light of it being May and not much going on with the NFL, I thought people might like a little taste of football again. The 2018 NFL Draft came and went, and as each new rookie finds himself in a new place at his team’s rookie camps, fantasy football owners will soon start looking with a close eye at some potential unproven additions. Offensively, of course, here are the outlooks on my top projected rookies at each position:
QB:
1. Josh Allen (BUF)
Since even before the draft, Allen has been pegged as the quarterback with the highest ceiling––probably because he’s also got the lowest floor. Allen will likely be one of the first rookies to see the field, and he also has slightly better options at wide receiver than his fellow 2018 QBs. While he may not be a draft-worthy prospect, consider keeping Allen on your watchlist this year.
2. Baker Mayfield (CLE)
After going first overall in the Draft, Mayfield enters into the Browns organization with a lot of hype. Ultimately, Mayfield’s fantasy purposes will come down to the play of Tyrod Taylor because it’s likely that Taylor will be given the first shot at the starting gig. However, a bit of a trend has formed of quarterbacks coming to Cleveland and stinking, so maybe Mayfield gets a shot early and breaks that trend. If so, Mayfield has legitimate weapons surrounding him in Josh Gordon and Jarvis Landry, so definitely watchlist Mayfield if you’re an optimist.
RB:
1. Saquon Barkley (NYG)
It seems like almost a formality to label Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick, as the top projected rookie running back in fantasy. Barkley will likely hog the ball in New York for 15-20 carries a game, so it shouldn’t come to a surprise to anyone that this freak of nature will likely be gone midway through the first round of fantasy drafts.
2. Derrius Guice (WAS)
Despite sliding down the draft board to No. 59 overall, Guice has a ton of talent and will likely step in as the three-down back for Washington. Last year for the Redskins, a whole plethora of guys saw success with a brutal offensive line, so Guice will look to prove early that he’s a true first-round talent behind a revamped Washington O-Line.
WR:
1. Calvin Ridley (ATL)
Another somewhat obvious pick––Calvin Ridley, drafted at 26th overall, will probably be a difference maker right away on the opposite side of Julio Jones. Ridley put up dominant numbers at Alabama and absolutely has the skills to be a WR2/WR3 in fantasy.
2. Anthony Miller (CHI)
Anthony Miller is the sleeper pick out of Memphis; drafted at 51 overall, Miller has “the potential to be the next Odell Beckham Jr.,” according to Pro Football Focus’s Jeff Ratcliffe. Miller slides into Chicago’s roster as the second or third option behind Allen Robinson/Kevin White, but his explosiveness and big-play ability could give Chicago’s offense and fantasy owners’ rosters a rejuvenated identity.
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