Fantasy Football: 20 Rookies You Should Consider Drafting in 2018

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The 2018 NFL Draft has come and gone but several rookies that were drafted last weekend are expected to step in and make an impact right away.

Here are 20 rookies you should consider drafting next season.

1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants: No brainer. Barkley is a first round talent in most fantasy drafts and should go no later than the second round. He’ll rush for over a thousand yards, score 8 to 10 touchdowns and catch 40 balls. Barkley is an RB1.

2. Rashaad Penny, RB, Seahawks: Penny will be the guy in Seattle. There is no one competing against him for the starting job. Pete Carroll wants to get back to pounding the ball and playing good defense. Penny will allow the Seahawks to do that. Provided he stays healthy, Penny should rush for 1,000 yards and 6 to 8 touchdowns making him an RB2 or a flex option.

3. Derrius Guice, RB, Redskins: It won’t be long before Guice is the feature back in Washington. Jay Gruden likes to pound the rock to set up play-action and shot plays. Guice will get a heavy workload early on. Look for him to hit the thousand yard mark and score 6-8 touchdowns. Guice projects as a flex or back up match up piece.

4. Ronald Jones, RB, Bucs: The speedster landed in a good spot with the Bucs. The only issue is, will Jones get enough carries. That and Bucs Head coach Dirk Koetter can be pass happy. Despite that, 800 yards and 4 to 5 touchdowns is not out of the realm of possibility. Jones has flex potential.

5. Sony Michel, RB, Patriots: I am leery of ranking Michel this high because the Patriots are notorious for killing the value of running backs because of lack of usage. Michel is a different type of back however. He is explosive and can be used in a myriad of ways. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will try to get Michel 12-15 touches per game which makes him flex worthy at minimum.

6. Calvin Ridley, WR, Falcons: There are lots of mouthes to feed in Atlanta’s passing game but Ridley could still put up good numbers as the third receiver. He has the ability to stretch the field and separate after the catch. Plus, with teams geared to stop Julio Jones and Mohammed Sanu, that will mean more man coverage for Ridley. Ridley is a flex play unless he beats out Sanu.

7. Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos: Sutton will get every opportunity to unseat either Demaryius Thomas or Emmanuel Sanders as a starter. With his length, catch radius and hands, Sutton will become a favorite target of Case Keenum’s pretty quickly. The rookie wide out is worth drafting as a back up right now with the possibility of being a flex.

8. Hayden Hurst, TE, Ravens: Hurst will step in start from day one. He is effective as a blocker and as a receiver so he will play in all situations. Hurst will be a factor in the red zone. I expect him to get plenty of targets as a rookie. Hurst won’t be a TE1 out of the gate but he could produce enough to eventually start in weekly line ups by mid-season.

9. Christian Kirk, WR, Cardinals: Kirk could potentially start opposite Larry Fitzgerald. Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy will use Kirk in a variety of ways. From vertical passes to perimeter screens, Kirk will get touches in Arizona’s offense. Kirk has flex potential as a rookie but he could develop into WR2 in the future.

10. Royce Freeman, RB, Broncos: Freeman is a fantasy sleeper. He doesn’t have much competition in Denver other than Devontae Booker so he will have every opportunity to start. Even if Freeman doesn’t start. He will get plenty of carries. Especially goal line carries. Freeman has some flex appeal.

11. Kerryon Johnson, RB, Lions: Johnson will have every opportunity to be the starter despite the presence of LeGarrette Blount and Ameer Abdullah. Johnson is the best all around running back of the three and is worth drafting late as a bench piece. Particularly in 12 team leagues.

12. D.J Chark, WR, Jaguars: The Jaguars lack the big play element in their offense. Chark gives them that and then some. He also gives them some much needed size as well. Chark will get every opportunity to start and if he does, he could be the focal point in a run first offense. Chark has flex potential.

13. Anthony Miller, WR, Bears: Miller should fit nicely in the Bears revamped skill group. He will have to compete for touches against Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Trey Burton but Miller has proven to be a reliable red zone target and that makes him draftable, especially in 12 leagues.

14. Michael Gallup, WR, Cowboys: The Cowboys have brought in a bunch of receivers as they look to reshape their receiving corp. Despite that, Gallup will have the opportunity to start as a rookie and develop a rapport with Dak Prescott. Gallup is a terrific route runner who knows how to get open and extend plays after the catch. It is too early to tell what Gallup’s role might be as a rookie but he is worth drafting late. He could see an extended role as the season goes on.

15. Nick Chubb, RB, Browns: Chubb has potential but I would temper expectations. Between Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson, Chubb may not get the carries necessary to be productive as a rookie. Despite the situation, Chubb is worth drafting, especially in a 12 team league.

16. James Washington, WR, Steelers: Washington should step into the third receiver role right out of the gate. He will get touches but it may take awhile. Pittsburgh likes to push the ball vertically so Washington will be a focal point when the Steelers want to take shots. For now, he is worth drafting in deeper leagues or 12 team PPR leagues.

17. Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles: Goedert will step into the second tight end role as rookie. The Eagles are in 12 personnel (two tight end personnel) a lot so Goedert will get targets, especially in the red zone. He has second tight end potential in leagues that use two tight ends or allow players to use tight ends at the flex spot.

18. Jordan Akins, TE, Texans: Akins is your classic move tight end at 6-3 250. He runs good routes and create match ups against nickel linebackers and safeties. Bill O’Brien will give Akins every opportunity to get snaps and targets. Akins could end up starting with a good camp.

19. John Kelly, RB, Rams: Sean McVay has been looking for his Chris Thompson and he may have found him in Kelly. Kelly might be worth drafting in deeper PPR leagues or dynasty leagues.

20. Dalton Schultz, TE, Cowboys: With Jason Witten retiring, the talented Schultz will have an opportunity to seize the starting tight end job. Schultz will have to beat out Rico Gathers but he is a better blocker than Gathers and has untapped potential as a receiver. Schultz is worthy of taking a look in deeper 12 team leagues or dynasty leagues.