Rookies with the most upside this season

[night]

Normally, if you can find a rookie who can produce on par with veterans in the deeper rounds you can compete for fantasy titles. Who are the guys your average fan who doesn't watch college football will stun come mid-season? These will be players who have a legitimate shot at starting rather than a high draft pick who needs a year on the bench for various reasons.

Anyways, here's who I think can make a big impact:

Mike Evans - Bucs
Jordan Matthews - Eagles
Jared Abbrederis (I hope I spelled that right) - Packers

All of these guys are WRs, I haven't really seen much potential for instant impact starting RBs yet but time will tell after training camp and the preseason games.

 

[TK21775]

Bishop Sankey should get starting RB as Titans so I see him as doing well; also fan of Evans, with only V Jackson on the Bucs they had to draft a WR and from the reports I hear he's putting in the work and effort and should see action as the WR2 this season

 

[SmokingMonkey]

Jared Abbrederis over Devonte Adams in GB?
I think any slot detail work that Abbrederis gets would rely heavily on an injury to Cobb.

Cobb-Nelson-Adams will more than likely start out in the 3WR sets, imo.
But I could be wrong. If they want to move Cobb outside more this season, that would open up some slot snaps for Abbrederis.

 

[TREFF]

Jared Abbrederis over Devonte Adams in GB?
I think any slot detail work that Abbrederis gets would rely heavily on an injury to Cobb.

Cobb-Nelson-Adams will more than likely start out in the 3WR sets, imo.
But I could be wrong. If they want to move Cobb outside more this season, that would open up some slot snaps for Abbrederis.

Don't forget Boykins.. This guy is a long shot. . Although, GB is notorious for having a Fantasy WR come from nowhere. An injury or two and he'd be on the radar.

 

[TKOSpikes]

I like Matthews and Benjamin.

 

[bksballer89]

Cook from new Orleans

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Cook could be one, but when looking at potential rookie sleepers, you have to look at opportunity. Cook has a lot of competition for targets. Evans has a lot of competition (not as much as cook) as well with less of an oasis of production from the offense because of the QB throwing the ball. I think Watkins is the guy to get this year. He's clearly the main target in Buffalo with a QB that I think could have a break out year as a reliable passer.

 

[TK21775]

Who does Evans have for competition? Vincent Jackson had 78 receptions and the rest of the WR's on the depth chart I see have a combined 21. He should be slated in the WR2 spot easily

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Who does Evans have for competition? Vincent Jackson had 78 receptions and the rest of the WR's on the depth chart I see have a combined 21. He should be slated in the WR2 spot easily

Vincent Jackson. The bucs could also end up with an absolutely terrible offense. I'd rather have the wr1 from a terrible offense than a wr2. There is nobody else on the bills but Watkins that is even close to the talent of Vincent Jackson. I could be wrong, but I think Watkins will be getting more targets than Evans by far.

 

[TKOSpikes]

I think Watkins is the guy to get this year. He's clearly the main target in Buffalo with a QB that I think could have a break out year as a reliable passer.

I hope your love for Watkins turns out right, but in every thread you talk about him, you incidentally throw Robert Woods under the bus. E.J. Manuel looked to Woods last year the most, and Woods didn't disappoint. Now, as far as explosive "fantasy" plays, sure I agree, Watkins "should" be the guy to have in Buffalo... but Woods is to Manuel, as Branch was to Brady... just there, open, catching passes, getting first downs.

 

[averagejoe]

I agree with Fudge to some extent. The thing that holds me back from buying into Watkins is that his QB is still learning as well. And even an experienced QB doesn't always target the WR1 because he is the WR1. A younger QB especially is told to make safe, high-percentage throws (like to the RB, TE, or WR2). So I have trouble seeing Manuel just start slinging/forcing balls to Watkins simply because "he's Watkins."

 

[TK21775]

Vincent Jackson. The bucs could also end up with an absolutely terrible offense. I'd rather have the wr1 from a terrible offense than a wr2. There is nobody else on the bills but Watkins that is even close to the talent of Vincent Jackson. I could be wrong, but I think Watkins will be getting more targets than Evans by far.

I guess I see Woods is the WR1 but say Sammy is, won't he be going against the best CB on the defense? Evans will be seeing the 2nd best CB as Jackson will be going up against the #1.

I think Watkins will be good but he reminds me of all the hype with Tavon Austin last season who was going to be the #1 for the Rams; he started producing but it was halfway through the season

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

I guess I see Woods is the WR1 but say Sammy is, won't he be going against the best CB on the defense? Evans will be seeing the 2nd best CB as Jackson will be going up against the #1.

I think Watkins will be good but he reminds me of all the hype with Tavon Austin last season who was going to be the #1 for the Rams; he started producing but it was halfway through the season

I see what you mean with your comment on the corners each player will face, but comparing Watkins to Austin is a little bit of a reach. Austin is probably faster, but has nowhere near the size. Watkins has average wr size. I think the conversion from college to NFL will go much more smoothly than it did for Austin.

 

[Xponentialchaos]

Watkins
Sankey
Cook

Watkins is going to be special.

 

[The Foot]

Ebron could break out! I think if Sammy or Evans landed in Detroit you'd have to say there value would have gone up at least that would be my opinion. I believe the Lions wanted to trade up to get Watkins but then decided what the heck if we can get Ebron at ten it might be just as good. He is a player that may not be as great as Watkins or Evans but has surly stepped into the right situation. Plus he is as big and fast as Evans so it's just like they drafted Evans only he gets cradit for TE points, a gift to the fantasy world. The great thing about Ebron is he has a chance to be like Jimmy Graham. I don't care if it is a gaurentee or not if you have a TE that has even a slight chance to be the next Jimmy graham you take it and don't look back, I'll take a chance all day long and if he don't pan out so be it but if he hits you probably win a lot and have a very good year!

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Ebron could break out! I think if Sammy or Evans landed in Detroit you'd have to say there value would have gone up at least that would be my opinion. I believe the Lions wanted to trade up to get Watkins but then decided what the heck if we can get Ebron at ten it might be just as good. He is a player that may not be as great as Watkins or Evans but has surly stepped into the right situation. Plus he is as big and fast as Evans so it's just like they drafted Evans only he gets cradit for TE points, a gift to the fantasy world. The great thing about Ebron is he has a chance to be like Jimmy Graham. I don't care if it is a gaurentee or not if you have a TE that has even a slight chance to be the next Jimmy graham you take it and don't look back, I'll take a chance all day long and if he don't pan out so be it but if he hits you probably win a lot and have a very good year!

I don't think Jimmy Graham would put up Jimmy Graham like statistics if he were on a team with Calvin Johnson and Matthew stafford starting. Graham is the focal point of the offense in New Orleans. He wouldn't be in Detroit. I think his stats would suffer. That's why I don't think Ebron will be an elite TE this season.

 

[SteelersPride]

tre mason

 

[TREFF]

I don't think Jimmy Graham would put up Jimmy Graham like statistics if he were on a team with Calvin Johnson and Matthew stafford starting. Graham is the focal point of the offense in New Orleans. He wouldn't be in Detroit. I think his stats would suffer. That's why I don't think Ebron will be an elite TE this season.

I'd say that's about right, very very rare for a rookie TE to make a big impact. Don't let Orange Julius cloud your judgements. Rookie TE'S have A LOT to learn so the curve usually b takes them into year 2 or three before they're getting enough PT, and the trust of the QB and coaches to be a big part of the gamelan. Blitz pick ups, oline shifts, run blocking assignments. .plus their own route trees. . It shouldn't be a shock to see rookie TE's only play a handful of snaps per game that rookie year. And let's be real, Detriot has a capable, talented, albeit extremely inconsistently frustrating, TE that they already don't use. There's no rush to force Ebron into the spotlight. Sorry foot, but Ebron is WAY down my list of possible impact rookies.

 

[wilwhite]

I don't care if it is a gaurentee or not if you have a TE that has even a slight chance to be the next Jimmy graham you take it and don't look back,

Even Graham had below-average stats as a rookie.

NFL vs. college seems to be an especially big leap for everybody but RBs.

 

[The Foot]

I get you Treff but the word out of Detroit is that they are planning on useing 2 TE sets with Ebron in the slot something like 60 percent of the time while the other te will always stay in to block just like they do in NO. I think Ebron has a chance to be productive in his first year cause he will be playing a wr role more so than a TE's. Not that WR do all that much there rookie seasons either but i think Ebron has a very productive season none the less since he is a match up problem and at the very least he wont have to ever worry about double teams.