Rookies sound great on the surface for fantasy football owners. There’s no history on them fading toward the end of the season or being massively inconsistent, so it can seem like a good value pick at certain times in fantasy drafts.
Don’t be so fooled.
There were a few rookies who shined last season, like Arizona’s David Johnson, St. Louis’ Todd Gurley and Oakland’s Amari Cooper, but for the most part, rookies should not have been regulars on fantasy rosters. If they were, then your team likely suffered.
Finding those steals, like Johnson, who was valued later in fantasy drafts, or hitting on players like Gurley or Cooper toward the top of the draft will keep the spotlight on rookies during fantasy football season.
Here’s three players who will make an immediate impact for fantasy football teams.
Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
He’s a freak, so that helps right away. It also helps that he’s on a team that only two years ago featured the best rushing attack in the NFL.
The Cowboys already have Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris on the roster, so that creates a bit of a conundrum right away for Elliott owners. However, I’m confident as the weeks progress, he will shine above those two options. McFadden was a pleasant surprise last season, but there’s no way Dallas can trust him to stay healthy for an entire season.
He hasn’t shown the ability to stay away from injury during his career, and another year of age won’t help change that perception. And while Morris may still have some time left in the tank, he’s more of a plodder, which is far different than Elliott. Elliott is a three-down back who can add production in the passing game, too, for the Cowboys, which is something Morris and McFadden cannot.
Elliott will make an immediate impact for a team poised to be a factor in the playoff race. The price will be high for him, since many experts are touting his ability, but in the end, he may be worth the high pick.
Laquon Treadwell, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings need a wide receiver who can make a difference inside the 20-yard-line. With Adrian Peterson slowing down, Teddy Bridgewater has to be a more productive player in getting Minnesota into the endzone.
To be that player, he needs more weapons, which Treadwell provides.
Charles Johnson disappeared last season, while Cordarrelle Patterson is on his way out. Jarius Wright offers a decent slot option for the Vikings, but there’s just nobody available to be a different-maker on the outside. Stefon Diggs gave some hope to the offense last season by having a breakout rookie season toward the end of 2015, but I’m skeptical if that production will continue.
That should open the door for Treadwell as a player who will garner several looks from Bridgewater. The Vikings need Bridgewater to take another step forward in his development. To get to the next level, he will need Treadwell to be a weapon right away.
Devontae Booker, Denver Broncos
He’s not going to be a starter right away, so you will have to be patient. But by the middle of the season next year, Booker may be in the best situation of any rookie.
Starter C.J. Anderson has gotten off to slow starts in the previous two years. That start allowed Ronnie Hillman to sneak in last year to gobble up some carries. If that happens again this year, Hillman and Booker will be available to nab some looks. And for my money, I’m backing Booker against Hillman.
Booker was a machine at Utah. He can produce in all phases of the game, making him an intriguing pick for fantasy owners, especially with Denver’s desire to run the football. Booker is ready to compete right away for playing time and while he won’t get the start at the beginning of the season, he should compete for more playing time by the middle of the season.
